Tag Archives: 4G

Globe intensifies LTE coverage, fires up more sites

Globe Telecom has intensified its 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) service as it activates more LTE sites across the country, giving its subscribers more reasons to enjoy superfast mobile connectivity in its network.

Initially offered in the City of Makati, Globe has steadily increased its LTE coverage by bolstering its LTE infrastructure in key cities of Metro Manila as well as major areas outside the metropolis. These include Pasig City, Quezon City, Taguig, City of Manila, Muntinlupa City, as well as Cebu City and Boracay in Malay, Aklan in the Visayas. Within these locales, the company has switched-on its LTE signal in some of the major avenues, villages and subdivisions, business districts, upscale malls, hotels, busy commercial zones, government offices, schools, sporting arenas and hospitals, as well as the premier tourist destination Boracay.

In an interview, Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu said that the LTE philosophy of Globe is to let their subscribers go around contiguous areas without having to lose their LTE signal: “We don’t want them to be constrained in a specific LTE spot and be cut-off after stepping out of there. The Globe LTE coverage lets them freely walk around places they frequent such as malls, offices and the like and still receive our LTE signal seamlessly.”

The Globe chief said that the company’s LTE expansion will quickly cover more ground across the Philippines as the first phase of its modernization nears completion with its new network primed for LTE, and will be supported by the ongoing rollout of over 12,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable spanning the archipelago.

According to Globe Chief Technical Advisor Robert Tan, this development further bolsters the company’s 4G network as it introduced technologies in anticipation of the incremental demand for mobile data.

“We have continued to expand our LTE coverage as we focus on large, contiguous areas, instead of “pocket activations” and “hot spots” to ensure greater and more stable coverage for customers,” confirmed Tan. “With the Globe LTE, we have upped the ante in terms of internet connectivity by as much as 42 Mbps, currently the fastest available there is now.” 

Since fourth quarter of last year, Globe subscribers with LTE-powered gadgets such as the premium mobile broadband Tattoo Black and the first commercially-available LTE handset in the country, the Huawei Ascend P1, have been enjoying internet connections at breakneck speeds via the Globe LTE. Meanwhile, those armed with the iPhone 5, iPad 3 and the iPad mini which have recently made available their LTE connectivity through iOS upgrades can now experience ultrafast Globe LTE on their Apple devices.

Globe was first to introduce 4G technology in the Philippines with its WiMax network in 2009 and during that same year, it collaborated with SingTel to test 4G LTE in the country which was able to register speeds of up to 100 Mbps. In 2011, Globe gave its subscribers their first HSPA+ signal. Mobile 4G LTE for handsets was already active as of late last year, supporting voice and SMS.

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Globe subscribers to enjoy LTE on their iPhone 5 for free

Globe subscribers on iPhone 5 postpaid plans can now experience fourth-generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) on their devices by updating to Apple’s latest software, the iOS6.1.

The availability is on the heels of Apple’s announcement that it has enabled the LTE functionality of the iPhone 5 in the Philippines.

With this development, Globe postpaid subscribers on iPhone 5 can enjoy blazing mobile internet speeds of up to 42 Mbps in LTE-covered areas without having to upgrade their plans or pay extra charges.

To enjoy LTE coverage on their iPhone 5, subscribers need to update to iOS 6.1 and use an LTE Nano-SIM.

“We are very excited to welcome this milestone for our postpaid subscribers as we provide them with ultra-fast data speeds and better call and text experience on their iPhone 5 devices,” said Peter Bithos, Senior Advisor for Consumer Business at Globe.

Added Bithos, “Even with LTE, Postpaid subscribers don’t need to incur additional fees or shift to a different or higher data plan just to enjoy the benefits of LTE. Globe is making LTE available to everyone on LTE-enabled devices regardless of their plan subscription.”

As of January 2013, the Globe LTE network, which uses a frequency of 1800 MHz perfect for the iPhone 5, has quickly expanded to cover more areas nationwide. Aside from Makati, LTE coverage is now available in select areas in Manila, Pasig City, Quezon City, Taguig City, Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong, Cebu City, and Boracay.

To ensure greater and more stable coverage, the Globe LTE rollout strategy focuses on large, contiguous areas, instead of sporadic distribution in the form of pocket activations or hotspots.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, Globe unveiled its roster of LTE-enabled products and services such as its 4G LTE broadband dongle Tattoo Black, the country’s first-ever LTE data roaming service, and its LTE-powered smartphone Huawei Ascend P1 LTE and ZTE T81 LTE under its suite of fully-customizable postpaid plans bundled with unlimited data for worry-free mobile browsing.

LTE is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and other data devices such as tablets and USB modems. It is a next-generation mobile network technology that responds to the growing demand for mobile Internet bandwidth by providing download speeds of as much as 100 Mbps.

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Globe announces Tattoo Black as 4G LTE plan

Globe Telecom announces via a corporate blog that the network will start offering two new postpaid plans under the Tatto Black brand, Globe’s premium mobile broadband stick. These new plans will utilize their 4G LTE broadband technology.

Globe Tattoo Black will be offered in Plan 1799 and Plan 2499. Both plans will have a dedicated hotline for customer service and technical assistance. Subscribers will also experience priority assistance in all Globe stores nationwide.

Under the Plan 1799, subscribers will get a free USB dongle and will enjoy Internet speed of up to 28Mbps. Those who will be getting the Plan 2499 can connect to up to 42 Mbps.

In line with the announcement, Globe also came up with a promotion. All interested parties will enter to a raffle for a chance to get an all-expense paid trip to the Singapore Grand Race. Consumers should register their interest to avail of the Tattoo Black Postpaid Plan via the tattoo. globe.com.ph portal where they will fill up a form to enter their personal information. Last day of registration is on September 14, 2012, 12 noon. Raffle will also be on the same date at 1 PM.

“Ultimate speed and pure spectacle is what Tattoo Black is all about, which is very much similar to the Singapore Race,” a Globe official said in a press release.

This post was first published at KabayanTech.com.

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Globe Telecom upgrades network deploying 3G, HSPA+, LTE, 4G technologies

Globe Telecom promises an improved and more stable network as the company boosts up its technical backbone. As per press release, the network rolls out its ‘massive network modernization program.’

Globe subscribers will no longer experience SMS and voice services interruptions saying prompts like ‘message sending failed‘ and ‘unable to establish connection‘ will be eliminated with this move to expand and solidify their network.

Globe signal will be consistent throughout the archipelago with the network’s wider 3G footprint. HSPA+ and long-term evolution (LTE), both of 4G technologies, will soon be experienced too making Globe’s mobile services more reliable.

Reports said that the network invested a total of US$790 million for Globe’s modernization project for the next five years. Initially, as Globe recently announced, the network deployed HSPA+ and 3G to its 6,000 base stations nationwide for the next two years.

“The network transformation program is definitely another milestone for Globe. The key to delivering quality products and services is having a strong, reliable and solid network infrastructure,” said Robert Tan, chief technical adviser of Globe. “With this modernization program in place, we are evolving to become a multi-service network enabling different platforms while keeping our customers always connected with Globe.”


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wi-tribe is Philippines’s First 4G Broadband Service Provider

 
I was on my way to school via MRT when I saw a huge billboard with a huge 4G on it. I was able to get the word ‘wi-tribe’ and take note of it so that I could search for it online.

While browsing on it’s web page, wi-tribe is the first broadband service in the country to offer 4G for internet connection. I came to know that wi-tribe is from Liberty Broadcasting Network. This time, it sounds familiar.

I was actually tweeting a representative from Liberty last January 2010 and she was saying that they’re going to offer 4G broadband service to the country. I was really excited about that knowing that our local broadband service providers offer too slow internet connections. But since I deleted my Twitter account weeks after our conversation, I never heard any update about the launch of that 4G broadband service.

Good to know that I was able to catch that billboard in EDSA. Yes, wi-tribe is here to bring us the true ‘fastest internet’ that others claim on their advertisements. But, I haven’t tried their service yet. 

According to their website, they offer the same monthly subscription plan as to their competitors. For PhP998/month, you’ll get to experience the 4G internet speed from wi-tribe. This is an introductory offer, as the site mentioned.

I assumed that the service is currently available to Metro Manila since there were no mentions of provincial coverage. But I still tried asking them. Once they replied on my request, I’ll let you know by updating this blog.

UPDATE as of March 09, 2010: wi-tribe replied from my email regarding their service area. Since I am living in Marilao, Bulacan, obviously, it’s not covered with their 4G service area. Here’s their reply:

Dear Fjordan Allegro,

We received your inquiry regarding coverage in your specified area on March 8, 2010.

Initially, we have covered the major cities in Metro Manila. Your area in Loma de Gato Marilao Bulacan however is still a part of wi-tribe expansion plan. Rest assured that we will get in touch with you as

soon as we start servicing your location.

Sincerely,
wi-tribe ,)

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