Globe pushes for accessible, seamless connectivity as new tech emerges

Telecommunications firm Globe said it is focusing on expanding digital access, protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, and ensuring that innovation benefits more Filipinos amid the emergence of new connectivity solutions.

"No single technology can connect a nation. The challenge is not deciding which technology wins. The challenge is ensuring every Filipino has access to reliable connectivity wherever they are," said Carl Cruz, president and CEO of Globe Telecom.

"Mobile networks, fiber infrastructure, submarine cables, and satellite technologies each have a role to play in building a more connected, resilient, and inclusive Philippines. And this is exactly what we hope to fully achieve as we map out our footprint in the country," he added.

The telecom firm said it supports technology-neutral policies that encourage innovation while ensuring that all connectivity providers uphold high standards for service reliability, security and consumer protection, and fair competition.

It added that achieving universal connectivity will require collaboration among industry players, regulators, technology providers, and policymakers, with the goal of ensuring every Filipino has access to reliable, secure, and accessible digital services.

It further said that as digital services become increasingly embedded in everyday life, connectivity has evolved into essential infrastructure. Education, healthcare, financial services, government transactions, and emergency response all depend on reliable digital access, making connectivity as critical to modern society as other basic utilities.

Globe said that, for decades, mobile networks, fiber infrastructure, and submarine cables have formed the backbone of the Philippines' digital ecosystem. These investments continue to provide the capacity, speed, and resilience needed to support millions of Filipinos, businesses, and communities every day.

At the same time, satellite technology is opening new opportunities to reach areas where traditional network deployment remains challenging. Remote islands, geographically isolated communities, transportation corridors, and disaster-affected locations can benefit from satellite capabilities that extend the reach of existing networks and help strengthen connectivity where it is needed most, it added.

Rather than viewing satellite and terrestrial networks as competing technologies, Globe said it sees them as complementary components of a broader connectivity ecosystem.

It is reflected in its efforts to build a multi-network platform that integrates mobile, fiber, wireless, submarine cable, and satellite technologies, including its partnership with Starlink to offer satellite-to-mobile capabilities that can help extend connectivity beyond the reach of traditional cellular infrastructure and provide additional resilience during emergencies and disaster response.

Globe has already begun integrating satellite capabilities into its connectivity ecosystem. The company has also recently deployed satellite-based connectivity solutions during emergency response efforts in Mindanao, providing an additional layer of communications support in affected areas while network restoration activities were underway. —AOL, GMA News