Globe ups Marikina connectivity for better disaster preparedness

More network builds and site upgrades are underway as Globe pursues its ambition to build a #FirstWorldNetwork.

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In Marikina, Globe installed two new cell sites and 146 sites were upgraded to fulfill the telco’s commitment to have 4G everywhere.

Digital connectivity is the way to cope, better yet, prepare for disasters in this often-hit area. Marlon Llamson of Barangay Tumana and his family have been constantly affected by floods that damage their area. Despite situations beyond their control such as losing personal belongings, they are still thankful that they have enough time to prepare as much as they can with advance information on apps and Marikina LGU’s social media accounts. “Nakikita na kaagad sa internet kung gaano ka kataas ‘yung tubig, kung anong level na dito sa may tulay. ‘Pag mabagal ang internet, hindi kaya.” (The water level is easily seen on the internet, and what level it is already at is near the bridge. If the internet connection is slow, that isn’t possible.)

Reliable and world-class internet is what a community needs in times of normalcy or peril. Marikina has been proactively using its official social media platforms to inform its residents with important and timely information regarding impending typhoons and other calamities.

Josh Beltran Ucol, a working student and part-time researcher who is also a hobby gamer who needs to balance, says that “life could have been disastrous without a reliable internet connection. One, surviving the pandemic and two, coping with your academics.”

Users in the Philippines spend 63.3% of their time on Wifi. Independent analytics firm, Opensignal, observed a large week on week increase in the time smartphone users spent connected to a Wifi network by the third week of March 2020. [1] They reported that this was the largest increase that they have observed across all Asian countries under the study.

The mobile landscape in the Philippines comprises 173.2 million users. [2] With all the network upgrades implemented, validation on the pervasiveness of 4G comes from Opensignal which states in its latest report, “4G availability in the Philippines has risen to more than 80% as of November 2020” [3] . “There has been a reduction in dead spots during calls, it means that somehow we’re all properly connected now,” Ucol adds.

The company strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9 which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. Globe is committed to upholding the 10 United Nations Global Compact principles and 10 UN SDGs.

For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph.