PH telcos conduct successful technical interoperability tests of MNP

The Philippines’ major Mobile Network Operators (MNO) namely DITO, Globe and Smart Communications are one with the government in the implementation of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Act and through their joint venture company, Telecommunications Connectivity Inc. (TCI) has successfully concluded the initial tests of their technical capabilities and interoperability last July 14, 2021.

The joint effort will soon allow customers the option to keep their mobile numbers permanently, even when they change network providers or switch subscriptions.

Globe, Aruba drive transformation with managed network solutions

Globe Telecom, through its enterprise arms Globe Business and Globe myBusiness, and its wholly owned information and technology solutions provider subsidiary Yondu, rolled out its new SD-WAN technology service in partnership with Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, to help clients gain competitive advantage with future-ready and streamlined networking functionalities as businesses rapidly move to cloud-first technology.

Supported by Aruba, Globe’s Managed WiFi and SD-WAN Connect+ are designed to help businesses deploy simplified and streamlined network infrastructure while reducing the burden of IT network management complexities and support costs. This is possible through proactive monitoring and remote diagnostics using a cloud-based management platform. Combined with Globe’s industry expertise, these solutions enable IT decision makers to focus their attention more on developing strategies that are aligned with their business priorities. 

Globe, Ortigas Land future-proof modern homes with high-speed fiber internet

Globe and premier property developer, Ortigas Land have recently entered into a partnership which will allow residents of the Ortigas estates to future-proof their homes with built-in smart home systems and with high-speed fiber connectivity. This will enable future homeowners to enhance their living experiences which will include features for the modern home such as security, convenience, and comfort.

As Ortigas Land celebrates its 90th year in developing master-planned communities, the property developer has begun to offer smart home features in its residential projects that would enable soon-to-be homeowners to future-proof their homes. 

Collaborating with Globe, upcoming luxury residential offerings in Ortigas East and Capitol Commons in Pasig City, and The Galleon in Ortigas, will be equipped with Globe At Home’s (GAH) Fiber Internet Broadband even before homeowners move in.

Globe, WIA expand assistance to LGUs to support more families

Widespread unemployment due to the pandemic has caused a surge in hunger. Hunger incidence in the country hit an all-time high when COVID-19 brought the economy to a standstill, a situation further worsened by strong typhoons which battered Luzon last year.

To help, Globe and Walang Iwanan Alliance (WIA) are expanding assistance to various local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila to aid more families and communities in support of the government's efforts.  This month, Globe turned over more than 1,500 food packs to barangays in Valenzuela and Quezon City through the Rewards points donations of its loyal customers. 

Globe named Global Rising Star in Video and Voice App Experience: Opensignal

Following its consistent performance year on year with its 4G network and 5G improvements, Globe was named a Global Rising Star in Video and Voice App Experience by international analytics firm Opensignal in its Global Awards* this March.

The company was cited for achieving a 16% improvement versus the global average of 5.8% for Video Experience, based on data comparing H2 2019 and H2 2020.

“Consistency is key in delivering better service to our customers, and this award is a validation of our efforts towards improving network service experience.  This helps inspire us to do more and continue along our path of building a #1stWorldNetwork,” said Ernest Cu, Globe’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

Ookla® data: Globe most improved in mobile average download speed in all technologies in Q4 2020

Globe’s aggressive and sustained network builds and upgrades are showing enhanced overall customer data experience as the telco emerged as the most improved in mobile average download speed across all technologies to 16.44 Mbps in Q4 2020 from 13.50 Mbps in Q4 2019, a 22% improvement according to Ookla data[1].

Based on a report from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the company has led new cell site builds; a testament to Globe’s support towards the government’s initiative to improve the country’s overall state of connectivity. To date, around 90 percent of Globe’s cell towers are now equipped with 4G LTE technology.

Globe helps develop English language literacy among children

Globe is helping develop language literacy among children in view of the significant drop in the country’s global ranking in English proficiency.  This is also in support of the Department of Education (DepEd)'s efforts to address the growing threat posed on the public education system by the ongoing pandemic.

Under its Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) initiative, Globe, through a partnership with Teach for the Philippines (TFP), provides essential learning sessions that promote 21st century learning and maximize digital resources among public school teachers and learners amid the COVID-19 crisis.  TFP works to provide Filipino children with inclusive, relevant, and excellent education.

Fil-Am hip-hop artist Guapdad 4000 announces new album with PARADISE RISING, 88rising's sub-label with Globe

As the first-ever artist signed by PARADISE RISING, celebrated Filipino-American hip-hop sensation Guapdad 4000 has announced the upcoming launch of his new album, 1176 for the emerging new label. 

The follow up to his 2019 debut full-length Dior Deposits which no less than the New York Times hailed as one of the best albums of the year, 1176 chronicles the life and career to date of the Oakland-based rapper, from his Filipino upbringing, humble beginnings and eventual stardom. Executive produced by fellow Fil-Am !LLMIND, the album hones in on Guap telling his own story, with the help of some of his close friends Buddy, P-Lo and Tish Hyman.

1176 features the recently released carrier single and music video, “How Many,” which samples the legendary Alice DJ track "Better off Alone." Directed by Chris Simmons, the video is the perfect introduction to this new era of Guap's artistry, exploring pieces of his mind as he finds himself trapped inside a liquor bottle, trying his luck with falconry, and bringing his tattoos to life.

Globe’s intensive builds yield positive results

Globe continues to scale up its network expansion as investments in its infrastructure are expected to increase further in 2021. The aggressive upgrades have already produced positive results for subscribers, with mobile and broadband internet speed and availability steadily improving across the country.

The company’s consistent service improvements each year, both in major cities and in underserved areas around the Philippines, have been validated by independent global analytics firms such as UK-based Opensignal and Ookla. Globe was in fact given the Global Rising Star Award for Most Improved Video Experience by Opensignal based on user data covering the first half of 2019 vs. the first half of 2020.

Globe provides free unli call, text to all Globe Prepaid/TM customers in Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur

Globe is giving free unlimited calls and texts to Globe/TM for three days to all its prepaid customers in Catanduanes, Albay and Camarines Sur to help them get in touch with their loved ones.  The three provinces are among the hardest hit by Typhoon Rolly.

Globe Prepaid customers will also get 50MB for surfing while TM users can enjoy 50 texts to all networks. Likewise, Globe Prepaid/TM customers will have P30 worth of IDD credits with seven-day validity that will allow them to place calls to North America and Asia Pacific for P2.50 per minute; and to Middle East and Europe for P5 per minute.  

Teachers, parents join Globe and DepEd in kids’ cyber safety talk

The shift to online learning for school year 2020-2021 imposes a lot of challenges to teachers, parents and students alike. Among these challenges, ensuring children’s online safety is the most critical. As a matter of fact, the Philippines ranks highly when it comes to online risks for children. According to Georges Dizon from Globe Business Enablement and Training Group, “The Philippines is a top source of child pornography. The country is likewise the second most dangerous online (or with high online risks) according to the DQ institute study in 2018.” 

The world of 5G is within your reach with Globe’s 5G-ready sims

As more Filipinos embrace fully the fast-paced digital life, Globe continues to introduce breakthrough innovations to impact the lives of its customers 

In 2019, Globe was the first to launch 5G for broadband in South East Asia. This also positioned the Philippines as the third country in Asia to offer 5G connectivity, after South Korea and Japan.  With broadband Airfiber, Globe at Home customers stay connected with the world right at home, with lightning-fast internet connection. In February 2020, Globe unveiled the first 5G service for mobile and introduced the first 5G device in the country, followed by more affordable 5G-capable smartphones.

Globe calls on Pinoys to consume only legal content online

The internet has become the main source of many copyright infringement content, impacting people and businesses involved in the production and distribution of legitimate materials and exposing consumers to malware and other cybersecurity threats.

The problem is further exacerbated by the pandemic as people are cooped up indoors and have to rely significantly on streaming or downloaded video, music, and games for entertainment. 

The latest report released by YouGov for the Asia Video Industry Association’s Coalition Against Piracy (AVIA CAP) showed that 66% of online Filipino consumers admitted having accessed piracy streaming sites and torrent sites, the highest percentage among eight Southeast Asian countries included in the survey.

Moreover, the number of Filipino consumers who purchased illegal streaming devices (ISDs) or a TV box to access pirated video-on-demand content and premium TV channels without paying subscription fees,  has jumped to 34% percent from 28% a year earlier. Of the 34% of consumers who purchased an ISD , more than half or 59% stated that they had cancelled all or some of their subscription to legal pay TV services. 

In addition to the short-term problem of cancelled subscriptions is a longer term problem – many of the people streaming pirated content are young. The survey found that 45% of 18-24 year-olds and 46% of 25-34 year olds used ISDs or other apps or services to view infringing entertainment content.

“In no uncertain terms, piracy is theft.  It puts the creative and film industry at risk.  It also puts the livelihood of people working in the industry at risk.  On top of these, piracy also puts data privacy and devices at risk because many unscrupulous persons use these sites to hack devices to obtain personal information.  For these reasons, we encourage our customers to watch content using legitimate sources only,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.

In the ASEAN region, one of the known initiatives to help curb piracy is through site blocking.  Countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia have been successfully doing this practice.  In the Philippines,  Senate Bill No. 497 entitled the ‘Philippine Online Infringement Act’ was filed by Senator Vicente Sotto III last year.  The pending bill proposes an administrative site blocking mechanism which would empower the authorities to ensure that Internet Service Providers take “reasonable steps to disable access to sites whenever these sites are reported to be infringing copyright or facilitating copyright infringement”.  

Neil Gane, General Manager of AVIA CAP said, “Site blocking is a key tool in disrupting the availability of piracy websites and the illicit revenues that are generated by crime groups who operate these sites. An effective site blocking process is a win-win for all Filipinos, resulting in many consumers migrating back to reliable and safe legal services with quality content.”

He added:  “Content piracy is not a victimless crime and often it’s the users who become victims. Piracy is a hotbed for malware. Unfortunately, the appetite for free and accessing stolen content via piracy websites or illicit streaming devices blinkers some consumers from the real risks of malicious malware infection such as spyware.”

As the Philippines’ leading advocate against online piracy, Globe, through its #PlayItRight campaign, continuously sends a strong message to the public to consume digital content the right way.  #PlayItRight is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals that Globe is supporting, namely:  UNSDG No. 8 - decent work and economic growth, No. 9 - industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and No. 17 - partnerships.

To protect the intellectual property rights of the company's own original content as well as the licensed content of its global and local partners, Globe makes it easy for its customers to access premium content using direct carrier billing.  It is a mobile payment option that allows Globe mobile customers to download and purchase digital content like games, movies, music, eBooks, apps, among others from Google Play Store and charge them to their Prepaid balance or Postpaid account.  Globe also offers mobile promos that give free connectivity to such content.

In 2014, Globe changed how Filipinos consumed music by introducing Spotify, ending the culture of illegally downloading mp3 music from illegal sources. Today, Globe remains as a preferred partner for content distribution by global, regional, and local entertainment brands and now produces its own original content through Globe Studios.

To learn more about Globe’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html#gref  

Globe encourages parents and kids to be responsible digital citizens

With community quarantine guidelines in place, families are expected to use the internet more as they stay safe at home. This puts them at greater risk for bullying, threats, and crimes. To help minimize the risk and promote responsible digital citizenship, Globe held the first Kids & Tech: Parenting in the Digital Age, an exclusive webinar that teaches families to become savvy consumers of social media and technology. 

Globe urges customers to use reporting tool for spam/scam cases

As cases of mobile fraud and spamming continue to escalate during the pandemic, Globe Telecom is encouraging its customers to use the company’s reporting tool to stop unscrupulous people from taking advantage or deceiving the general public through calls and text messages.

By visiting https://www.globe.com.ph/stop-spam.html and filling out the online form, Globe customers can easily help put a stop to these illegal practices.  Once a report is received, Globe will promptly respond by deactivating numbers proven to be repetitive sources of such dubious messages.

“We are concerned about the problems that could arise from these call and text scams. This is why we continuously work to combat this malicious behavior to provide a spam-free experience for all our customers. While we constantly upgrade and improve our blocking and filtering mechanism to keep unwanted messages from entering our network, we also need the cooperation of our customers to make this effort fully effective,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe Chief Information Security Officer.

Globe kicks off tribute campaign for local SMEs with special FB live event and inspirational video

As quarantine guidelines are slowly being loosened around the country, Globe myBusiness is paying tribute to an economic hero: the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), whose strength and resilience as they reopen and thrive in the new normal merit unwavering support through this year’s #SaludoSME campaign. 

The campaign kicked off with a special Facebook Live event via the official Globe myBusiness FB page with special messages from Ayala Corporation Chairman of the Board, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, and Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu. Another highlight of the event is a special reveal of an inspirational video, sung by none other than Broadway legend and international Filipino pride Lea Salonga, which showcased the resilience of local SMEs as they resume operations in the new normal. 

Go for more with Globe Prepaid’s newest and biggest Go Promos

Gear up for the new normal as Globe Prepaid brings you its newest Go promos with the biggest GBs for ALL sites and apps!

The new Go promos allow you to surf any of your favorite apps without holding back – giving you the flexibility and freedom that you need. Now, you can choose from different Go promos with the biggest GBs, unlimited texts to all networks, and more.

At the same time, you can further amplify your internet connectivity with the GoBOOSTER add-ons. You can choose from various boosters that will empower you to live your lifestyle  – from getting more GBs, more app access or even longer validity.

Embracing the cashless culture: Makati working student makes most out of Makatizen Card

Unlike others, 19-year-old Jhay-Anne Cordova doesn't need to scramble for change when she grabs her after-school snack. It's with a quick swipe of her Makatizen Card that gets her through the day. 

"I use my card to pay for transactions in malls when I go to the cinema or the grocery," Cordova says.

Launched in 2017, the Makatizen card is a shared initiative by the City Government of Makati, in collaboration GCash, Globe, and iBayad. The card allows thousands of Makati residents and employees to go cashless and digital. 

#1 music video community Musical.ly seals partnership with Globe

Gives Filipinos access to a platform to enjoy their favorite hits and create their own videos

Musical.ly, the currently rated #1 music video community seals its first ever telco partnership with the Philippines’ #1 mobile brand, Globe. Musical.ly is the world’s fastest growing online video community for creating, sharing and discovering 15-second videos.

With this collaboration, Musical.ly and Globe aim to give the best online experience to customers through easy access to a platform that allows creation of original content, and published by users themselves.

“We are delighted to have this partnership with Musical.ly because their platform combines 2 of the biggest things that Filipinos love – music and original video creation. There are countless trending videos online showcasing how talented Filipinos express themselves through original content and Musical.ly will be an enjoyable platform for that,” says Globe Chief Commercial Officer, Albert de Larrazabal.

Globe takes over summer with the best line-up of events all throughout the season

The hottest and most exciting season is finally here and everyone is getting ready to top last year’s summer trips with new adventures!

Bringing you the best events from all over the Philippines, Globe gears up with an awesome line-up - from the biggest music festivals, coolest movie premieres, to the finest beach parties and gaming festivals of the year, it will definitely be a wonderful summer ahead!

Let Globe take you to your next summer adventure! Choose your destination among the list of events below.

Just follow @enjoyGlobe on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GlobePH and visit www.globe.com.ph/summer-promos to get first dibs on how to get free passes to these events!