Globe signs network modernization deal with Huawei (Philippines, China)
Globe Telecom has signed a deal with Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, for a US$ 700 million mobile network modernization program to be rolled out within the next five years, across the nation. According to company reports, Alcatel-Lucent will manage the project.
As per the company, the network modernization includes an all-IP infrastructure, pervasive 3D coverage, double fiber optics capacity, 4D and LTE readiness, along with overall quality and resiliency. Further, at least $570 million of the total amount is expected to be spent this year and in 2013.
Globe aims to offer customers a robust network that can provide unparalleled customer experience that will set the company apart from other competitors. Further, the new Globe network and IT system is expected to not only address current customer needs, but also provide additional capacity for more sophisticated use of mobile and broadband technologies.
The updated network will offer improved call quality under pervasive 3G coverage, rare dropped calls, and instantaneous SMS delivery as well as fast Internet access.
Globe Telecom launches new apps portal under ‘MyAppsMall’ (Philippines)
Philippines telecom operator Globe has partnered with parent company Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel), in bringing to the country ‘MyAppsMall’, a new apps store enabling customers to search, purchase and download mobile applications and games in a single portal.
According to company reports, Globe prepaid and postpaid subscribers will be able to avail this service for free. MyAppsMall offers a combination of over 20,000 free and paid apps ranging from games, entertainment, social networking, productivity, lifestyle, sports, news, finance, and weather and is accessible via mobile browser (m.apps.globe.com.ph) or via PC web browser (apps.globe.com.ph).
Once registered, users can personalize their homepage with social networking sites, emails, news updates and RSS feeds. Users will also be provided with a free MyApps email account for an easier and more secure access.
In order to make the user experience more enjoyable, MyAppsMall can be accessed via a single portal, eliminating the need for users to go to multiple sites just to search for various applications that suit their interests. Its cross-platform support lets users find content suited specific to their mobile device, whether Android, Symbian, Java or BlackBerry.
Further, in an attempt to offer convenience to users, purchasing apps on the MyAppsMall do not necessitate a credit card. The amount purchased will be automatically charged to the users Globe prepaid or postpaid bill.
MyAppsMall also provides an exclusive platform for application developers to create, distribute and monetize their apps to an international market, making content available not only to the Philippines but also to the rest of the region covered by SingTel via its multiple market base.
Through the operator billing capability, subscribers from other SingTel affiliates can also purchase content from MyAppsMall, while subscribers from networks outside the SingTel Group can still buy apps using their credit cards. This further widens potential market for local developers, exposing their creations to a vast audience from around the world.
Glenn Estrella, Head, Globe Digital Media, has said that they are very excited with this new offering for their subscribers, leveraging on their strong affiliation with SingTel. Through MyAppsMall, their subscribers get the best mobile browsing experience by getting exclusive access to their apps of choice. Purchase for paid apps is so convenient and worry-free with the secure billing platform, with costs directly charged to user’s prepaid load or postpaid account.
Further, with this innovation, Globe and SingTel are also helping expose Filipino talent and creativity to the global market by tapping local developers and allowing them to sell their apps and services. With the MyAppsMall portal, there is indeed everything for everyone, and with Globe, everyone can enjoy it their way.
Globe Telecom to sign $700 million contract with Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei (Philippines)
Globe Telecom has launched a massive investment deal for its network modernization program. Globe has roped in cellular firm Huawei Technologies as lead partner and Alcatel-Lucent as project manager in the $700 million deal. Alcatel-Lucent is engaged with the Ayala-controlled cellular firm for Australia’s national broadband network project. As per sources, for Alcatel, the deal with Australia is far bigger in terms of investment than with Globe.
The network modernization project of Globe will be comprised of all-internet protocol infrastructure, extensive 3G coverage, double fiber optics capacity, 4G, overall quality and flexibility, etc. According to sources, a minimum of $570 million of the total amount will be utilized this year and rest will be taken care of in 2013. Throughout the year, Globe continued to excel in its performance via initiating post paid plans, launching value for money services for prepaid customers, etc.
Globe’s postpaid, prepaid and broadband business generated stupendous revenue throughout 2011, and the company closed its postpaid business with almost 1.5 million subscribers. Globe Telecom’s service revenues closed at $67.8 billion last year, 9 percent higher than previous year. The company said that the network modernization project will yield positive results with $170 million as savings. The company expects to complete the network modernization project in five years.
Mobile data bill to never cross US$ 23.5 per month with Globe (Philippines)
Globe telecom, a leading mobile network provider in Philippines, has launched the new Globe Postpaid PowerSurf, enabling its subscribers to stay connected to the internet via their mobile while saving on data charges.
According to company reports, PowerSurf 99 offers users 50MB of data for US$ 2.3 allowing them to do 1,200 Google searches, tweet 1,600 times, or tag 250 Facebook photos. Further, users can also subscribe to PowerSurf 299 which has 300MB of data for US$ 7 or PowerSurf 499 which gives users 1GB of data for US$ 11.7.
In the event that a user exceeds the usage of their PowerSurf Plan’s MB allocation, they will never be charged more than US$ 23.5 a month, thus offering users unrestricted access to mobile data without worrying about bill shock.
Hence, users can log on and off as much as they want so as to update Facebook, post a tweet, receive push e-mail, search Google or even watch Youtube videos, as they will never be charged ahead of US$ 23.5 for the month, irrespective of the plan opted for.
Joanna Africa, Head for Portfolio Management, Globe has said that bill shock has always been a concern for most of their postpaid subscribers who surf the internet using their mobile phones. Their new worry-free plans, headlined by the US$ 23.5 bill cap, show that Globe truly values superior customer experience by proactively addressing bill shock and helping subscribers cope with their data usage. Further, with the bill cap on PowerSurf in place, they give their postpaid subscribers peace of mind when they surf on their handsets – may it be an iPhone, Android or BlackBerry. For as long as they are registered to any of the PowerSurf plans, they can enjoy mobile browsing without racking up an expensive bill.
Globe Telecom reports 7 percent rise in subscriber additions (Philippines)
Philippines telecommunications company Globe Telecom has reported an increase in its subscriber base for the past year. According to company reports, Ernest Cu, President, Globe Telecom has said that the firm had a total of 30 million subscribers by the end of 2011, representing a 13 per cent increase over its client base of 26.47 million at the end of the previous year.
The telecom operator has been working towards increasing its market share and increasing its subscriber base across segments, in comparison with rival Smart Communications. Cu added that they have actually been converting more and more users from rival operators to Globe, in addition to converting more of their own prepaid users to postpaid users.
As per the company, gross subscriber acquisitions increased to 6.1 million in the fourth quarter. Further, the total additions for the year stood at 23.2 million, representing a 7 per cent rise from 21.8 million subscribers in 2010.
Looking towards the finances for this year, the operator claims that it has sufficient funds to carry out the required capital expenditures for 2012. As per sources, Albert Larrazabal, CFO, Globe, has said that the company would require raising US$ 585 million this year to carry out the planned network upgrade. He added that the company also plans to undertake US$ 234 million in retail bonds by June or July this year, while the remaining US$ 117 million will be raised in 2013. Larrazabal also said that the company will prepay its debt amounting to US$ 70 million this month.
Larrazabal states that the benefits of the transformation will be felt towards the second half of the year, actually what will happen as they roll out in different areas. Sources claim that the network upgrade is expected to improve quality in voice, text and data services.
Telecom operators ordered to comply with per-pulse billing (Philippines)
The Court of Appeals in Philippines has ordered all telecom operators to charge their customers on a six-second per pulse billing system as opposed to billing them by the minute. The decision will help provide subscribers a chance at saving on calls that do not complete an entire minute. This ruling supports the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) plan to charge based on a consumer’s actual usage.
According to reports, the Court has said that asking subscribers to prefix a number before dialing, to avail the six-second-per pulse billing option, destroys the mandatory nature of such a billing regime. Telecom operators have been fighting the change claiming that implementation of the per-pulse billing system would require significant technical changes for the companies. To this, the Court said that business and operations must ultimately give way to public interest.
Smart Communications starts public trial of its LTE network (Philippines)
Philippines’ leading wireless services provider, Smart Communications, has reportedly started the public trial of its LTE network in Manila which is expected to last for three months. According to reports, the operator plans to offer selected users access to thirty LTE sites in the capital, by providing them with LTE and HSPA capable dongles.
As per sources, the dongle is expected to offer users speeds of up to 42 Mbps during the trial period which will be till mid-February next year. Further, Smart is the first operator in Philippines to launch LTE services, which is currently limited to the region of Boracay.
Reports reveal that rival operator Globe Telecom has secured a loan amounting to US$ 114.2 million in order to funds its network upgradation, and is currently working towards launching its HSPA+ network.
Globe Telecom inks $ 114 million loan agreement with Rizal Commercial (Philippines)
Globe Telecom, a leading telecommunications company in Philippines, has reportedly entered into a US$ 114 million loan agreement with Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. to fund its capital outlays for the next year, inclusive of network modernization and IT upgrade.
According to reports, this loan agreement which extends over seven years is Globe’s second borrowing this year, following a $ 159 million loan from BDO Unibank Inc. As per sources, the funds from the first loan were used to pre-pay debt as well as fund the capital expenditures for this year.
Further, the company also announced plans of a $790-million network modernization program in the next five years, of which it reportedly plans to spend $640 million in the next two years.
Globe expects profit decline over $790 million network-upgrade (Phillipines)
Globe Telecom Inc., a leading telecommunication operator in the Philippines, has reportedly said that the next two to three years may witness a decline in profits as the company focuses on a network upgrade worth $790 million in an attempt to increase capacity and reduce costs.
According to reports, Albert De Larrazabal, CFO, Globe Telecom has said that while they don’t envision a loss, they do expect a decline in the income. He added that they expect to invest around $640 million of the capital expenditure by 2013. He added that the company plans to borrow $590 million next year to help finance the upgrade for which it is in touch with several banks as well as China’s export-import bank to secure loans, export credit and commitments for the issuance of peso-denominated retail bonds. The company reportedly expects to secure as much as $250 million by the second quarter of 2012.
As per sources, Ernest Cu, President, Globe Telecom has said that the network modernization is the company’s most significant investment for the past two decades and should increase capacity as well as save on operating costs and capital expenditure totaling $390 million.
SingTel to raise stake in AIS to 23.32 percent (Singapore, Thailand)
Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (SingTel) may be planning to raise its stake in Thailand’s Advanced Info Service (AIS) to 23.32 percent from 21.27 percent for about US$ 260 million. According to reports, SingTel has said that that Shin Corp PCL will sell 61 million shares in AIS. As per sources, Shin Corp owns a 42.6% stake in Advanced Info Services.
Further, reports suggest telecom giant SingTel has said it continues to look out for investment opportunities in Asia and other emerging markets, and that it will focus on strengthening the operating and financial performance of its associates. SingTel also has a stake in other foreign mobile operators such as Bhart Airtel (India), Telkomsel (Indonesia), Pacific Bangladesh telecom, Globe Telecom (Philippines) and Warid Telecom (Pakistan).
As per industry reports, SingTel has over 400 million mobile customers across 25 countries.
