OpenSignal: Globe outpaces competition in LTE speed, coverage

Providing fastest mobile internet service in the Philippines

OpenSignal State of LTE report:

Globe Telecom provides the fastest LTE service in the Philippines, affirming the superiority of its mobile internet service and network infrastructure amid intensely competitive environment in the local telecommunications industry.

Based on OpenSignal’s State of LTE report for the third quarter of 2015, Globe Telecom’s LTE download speed is at 10 Mbps, double its competition’s LTE download speed of only 5 Mbps. Globe Telecom’s LTE download speed is comparable to territories/countries like Hong Kong (Smart Tone), India (Airtel), Norway (Telenor, Network Norway), Portugal (NOS), Indonesia (Indosat), which all registered a 10 Mbps download speed, and even higher than the 8 Mbps download speed in Russia (MTS), Malaysia (DiGi) and even US (AT&T, US Cellular, Sprint, C Spire Wireless).

While Globe Telecom’s download speed of 10 Mbps is considered adequate, its competition’s download speed of 5 Mbps dragged down the Philippines’ average LTE download speed to 8Mbps. OpenSignal specializes in mobile coverage mapping by crowdsourcing signal strength, data speed and reliability. In terms of LTE coverage, that of Globe is also superior at 41% against its competitor’s 36%.

“These findings prove our success in continuously expanding our network capacities amid ever-increasing demand for high-speed mobile internet access as more and more of our customers

build their life and work experiences around a digital lifestyle,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications, noting that about a third of the company’s 48.4 million mobile customers are now using smartphones.

As part of the company’s aggressive LTE rollout, the Globe network’s mobile ultra-broadband access in Visayas and Mindanao were expanded, utilizing the LTE-TDD and LTE-FDD technologies, Agustin said. Currently one of the most relevant mobile network technologies, 4G LTE offers much higher bandwidth, lower latency even as it increases overall network capacity. This allows customers to use more applications on their mobile devices.

Crisanto said the continuing expansion of Globe network capacities is intended to provide its customers with holistic digital experience as the company continues to offer products and services that enhance the Filipino digital lifestyle. “Globe is committed in providing the right infrastructure support to ensure that the data needs of our customers are served, thus strengthening our position as the network of choice for smartphone users in the country. When it comes to mobile internet speed, we believe that the Philippines can compete globally but there is a need to distinguish between mobile and wireline,” she added.

Amid ongoing network expansion, Globe capital expenditure this year is expected to reach $850 million. As of June this year, capex stood at P11.4 billion, bulk of which were allocated for data-related projects that include investments for the company’s broadband network, capacities for wireless data, LTE, domestic and international transmission facilities. A significant portion of the company’s capex for the year were also allotted for its IT infrastructure as Globe continues to create platform for new products as well as to build on its IT transmission initiatives.

The OpenSignal data is collected from real consumer smartphones and is recorded under conditions of normal usage. Rather than approximate the user experience, it is directly measured from the users of OpenSignal smartphone application, which can be freely downloaded on both iOS and Android devices, and thus it is able to constantly monitor the true network experience that users are getting on those devices.

Through the app, OpenSignal is able to observe the network exactly as the end user experiences it. Such customer-centric approach allows OpenSignal to measure the true end-to-end experience of the mobile network. It isolated the networks in the Philippines by extracting all those points sent with network IDs corresponding to the brands operational there and then perform a geographical query to isolate only those data points that have been captured within the region. The different brands have been identified by investigating the network names associated with the SIM in the reporting device and the network which is serving the device.

Tattoo recognizes greatness among connected individuals, communities in 2015 Tatt Awards

Globe Telecom mobile broadband brand Tattoo has kicked off this year’s Tatt Awards, the country’s premier award-giving body that recognizes social media movers and shakers in the Philippines. Currently on its fifth year, the Tatt Awards is honoring greatness in connectivity this year, celebrating individuals, groups, and communities who have made an impact in the online space with their brand of content.

“This 2015, the Tatt Awards not only celebrates those who have been great online, but the connectivity that made their greatness possible. The Tatt Awards is part of Globe Telecom’s commitment to enabling the Filipino digital lifestyle, as it institutionalizes greatness, creativity, and innovation in the digital space. Before any content can make its mark, it must be liked, reposted, shared, followed, and passed on. It is through these connections that good things can become great. It becomes greatness amplified and greatness shared, and this is what this year’s Tatt Awards is all about,” said Ray Guinoo, Director for Tattoo Mobile Broadband.

The public is invited to nominate positive acts, ideas, talents, projects, or movements that achieved greatness by choosing to connect. Unlike previous Tatt Awards, this year’s nominations are not divided into specific categories. Any person or group may be nominated so long as the nominee has been able to create an impact through quality content that made a mark to the greater majority. The nominee must have also used social media to connect with the rest of the world, thus amplifying and sharing the work done. 

The nominations will be screened by the Tatt Council composed of key personalities from various fields, all of which have been chosen for their own brand of greatness. The members of the Tatt Council include environmental advocate Anna Oposa, social entrepreneur Bam Aquino, BasketballTV presenter Jinno Rufino, filmmaker Quark Henares, musician Jim Paredes, TV host and author Bianca Gonzalez-Intal, TV personality Daphne Osena-Paez, Emmy award-winning TV producer Mike Carandang, and technopreneur and Xurpas CEO and founder Nix Nolledo --- all of whom will face the daunting task of choosing the 2015 Tatt Awards winners from the public nominations. 

The ten awardees, or who will be known as The Great Ten, will be revealed and awarded at the Tatt Awards Night on November 11, 2015. Previous winners of the Tatt Awards include phenomenal star Vice Ganda, fashion blogger Tricia Gosingtian, social media sensation Kimpoy Feliciano, celebrity chef Erwan Heussaff, and technology blogger Abe Olandres for Yugatech.com. 

Public nominations will run from September 16 to October 15, 2015. Nominations can be submitted viawww.TattAwards.com.

As campaign versus text spam/scam intensifies to protect customers Globe blocks close to 31M spam/scam messages in less than a year

Globe Telecom blocked a total of 30.8 million of spam and scam text messages in less than a year as the mobile operator intensifies its campaign to rid its network of such annoying and unwanted messages and protect its customers.

The leading telecommunication provider expanded coverage of an automated filtering functionality that keeps its customers from receiving scam and spam messages. With the expansion, majority of the company’s 2.3 million postpaid customers are now covered by the filtering mechanism, said Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Service Management Division, Network Technical Group. 

Such filtering mechanism, which prevents the transmittal of scam messages to mobile devices, has substantially reduced the number of text scams/scams going through the Globe network, Agustin explained. Globe operationalized the automated filtering mechanism in October 2014 as part of the telecommunication provider’s efforts to rid its network of both spam and scam messages.

The volume of messages blocked by the network filtering system averages about 90,000/day, reaching a peak of around 200,000 in July this year. The filtering mechanism can be reconfigured to address the kind of spam and scam messages that goes through the Globe network, Agustin said. Recently, bulk of spam and scam messages delivered to Globe customers originate from sim cards of competition (with prefixes 0922, 0943), he noted.

“We will never tolerate the use of the Globe network by some unscrupulous individuals who want to take advantage of our customers for their own personal gain. Globe has been long committed in eliminating text scam spam as part of our commitment to provide wonderful customer experience,” Agustin stressed. He added that the company is continually developing mechanisms that will purge its network of text spams/scams. According to him, mobile numbers that are identified to be a constant source of spam and scam messages will be temporarily disconnected from service.

Aside from the filtering mechanism, Globe implemented an awareness drive to educate its customers and keep them from falling victims to text spam/text scams through its #stopspam campaign. In addition, Globe made it easier for its customers to immediately report text scams or text spams that they get on their mobile devices thru http://www.globe.com.ph/stopspam. Customers just need to provide all the details required and numbers that are reported as source of text scams will be immediately blocked from the network. 

Mobile customers of Globe Telecom reached 48.4 million at the end of the first half, a 13% rise from 42.7 million a year

Globe boosts your favorite promos with the Free Facebook and Viber

(L-R) Globe Vice President for Prepaid Brand and Portfolio Management Raymond Policarpio, Globe Director for TM Brand and Portfolio Management Trina Sebastian, Globe Vice President for Content Jil Go, and Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Daniel Horan.

The country’s number 1 mobile brand Globe Telecom continues its drive to position the Philippines as the Digital Lifestyle Capital of the World by giving customers free access to Facebook and Viber with their favorite Globe call, text, and surf promos. 

Starting September 1, 2015, all Globe Postpaid, Prepaid, TM and Tattoo customers can enjoy free access to Facebook and Viber when subscribed to promos including GoSURF variants and other existing call and text promos such as GOUNLI, ALLNETCOMBO and TMSULITXT, among others without the need for a Wi-Fi connection.

​FULL FREE FACEBOOK EXPERIENCE​
As the only telco in the country to offer a free full Facebook experience, customers will be able to view photos, stream videos uploaded on Facebook, as well as post, like, share and make comments on the social networking site. Globe Prepaid and TM customers subscribed to their promos will automatically get free access Facebook. Postpaid customers on the other hand can opt-in by texting FREE FB ON to 8888.

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​VAST VIBER FUN
Alongside Facebook, the browsing experience is made even better with free access to Viber. Customers can enjoy sending stickers, chatting with friends and groups, and staying connected with other Viber users around the world. Those registered to a Globe text promo can get Free Viber chat, which includes sending and receiving messages, as well as stickers, doodles, and photos. Exploring public chat is also free. When registered to a call or surf promo, customers can enjoy Free Viber chat, complete with voice and video calls. Postpaid customers can instantly enjoy Free Viber call and chat for the entire promo duration.

​MOBILE DATA LEADERSHIP 
Globe continued to dominate the country’s mobile data segment after posting mobile browsing and other data revenues of P9.5 billion in the first six months of the year, a 53% growth from previous year’s level at P6.2 billion. On a quarterly basis, second quarter 2015 revenues reached P5.1 billion, up 16% from previous quarter at P4.4 billion.

This achievement brought the contribution of mobile data revenues to total mobile revenues by 23% as of 1st half of 2015, coming from 16% the previous year.

With mobile data business growing at a rapid pace, data users from overall Globe mobile customer base have grown to 37% during the same period, a substantial increase from previous year’s 17%. Wireless data traffic on the Globe network has also increased by 82% year-on-year with the growing number of smartphone users and applications that leverage the internet.

To support the growing demand for bandwidth-heavy services such as broadband and data, Globe spent around P11.4 billion in capital expenditures in the first half of 2015.

For more information on Free Facebook, text FREE FB HELP or FREE FB STATUS to 8888 or visitwww.globe.com.ph. 

To know more about accessing Viber for free, visit www.globe.com.ph/freeviber.

Globe opens first two-storey GEN3 store in the country

Brings the complete digital retail experience to Manila’s central business district with 4th GEN3 store in Makati

The number 1 mobile brand in the country and leader in the digital space Globe Telecom is set to bring the world-class retail experience to more customers nationwide as it opens its first two-storey GEN3 store in Greenbelt 3 in Makati, its 4th GEN3 store in the country since it launched in December last year.

Located at the central business district home to the country’s biggest offices, retail establishments and corporate headquarters, the previous average-sized store is converted into a two-storey version that showcases the major features of the new Globe GEN3 stores. From the reconfigurable major lifestyle zones such as Music, Entertainment, Life and Productivity to the self-service customer kiosks, more customers in Manila will now be able to experience next-generation retail in a dynamic and interactive space. 

Each lifestyle zone is curated to feature the telco’s topnotch roster of content from the best music on Spotify, in-demand movie and TV titles on HOOQ and the latest in mobile gaming such as Clash of Clans and Candy Crush, among others. Veering away from the usual display of smartphones and postpaid plans, Globe GEN3 stores illustrate mobile and broadband technologies as connected and experiential solutions.

“Our journey to transforming the customer experience continues with the opening of another GEN3 store in the country, this time in Makati, the country’s central business district. This is the first two-storey store which means that more customers will be able to enjoy the innovative and interactive experience that the GEN3 store offers. In the same way that Globe has transformed the Philippine mobile landscape by recognizing the digital shift and responding to the needs of our customers, we also see GEN3 creating a new standard for telco retailing not just in the Philippines but in the world,” says Ernest Cu, President and CEO at Globe.

Globe Head of Retail Transformation and Stores Management Joe Caliro shares, “Each one of our GEN3 stores is a product of our team’s mission of giving our customers the best differentiated service that only Globe can provide. We ensure that we have maximized every corner of this new store to give everyone who walks in a chance to discover and learn something new every time.”

GEN3 also carries an up-to-date selection of digital connectors turning the store into a one-stop digital lifestyle hub. GEN3 serves as a platform to showcase the latest technologies, making them more readily available to everyone.

This season, GEN3 is the first store in Asia to carry the ZAGG machine, a revolutionary device that customizes industry standard screen protection for almost all available smartphones, tablets and smart watches in the market. 

Apart from new technologies, GEN3 is also a space that gives up and coming personalities a place to tell their stories. Each lifestyle zone will feature stories of various individuals that are blazing a trail in their respective industries. As the GEN3 store in Greenbelt opens, customers will get to know the latest musical discoveries in Spotify’s recent online artist search, Emerge – finalist Marion Aunor and grand winner Shehyee. With changing content every quarter, customers can expect new activities to experience and new stories to get inspiration from.

The Globe GEN3 stores are designed by Tim Kobe, founder and CEO of Eight, Inc. His most famous work is the Apple Store in New York, alongside his other dynamic designs for international retail stores such as Nike, GAP and Coach, among others. 

Globe is set to open one more GEN3 store at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong by October. Globe also earlier announced the construction of the Globe Iconic Store that is set to be the biggest and grandest Globe store. Its pioneering design will feature a bridge that will link two Globe stores from opposite sides. The Globe Iconic Store will soon rise right above the Bonifacio Global City amphitheatre at the Bonifacio High Street Central in Taguig City.

Globe Telecom drives internet adoption in PH with complete suite of free Facebook experience

Globe Telecom announced that Facebook is back and it is here to stay! Customers can now enjoy Facebook with free data, Facebook 7-day trial for TM customers, and Free Facebook with GoSURF! You can also enjoy Spotify and casual games like Clash of Clans with your GoSurf plan!

The country’s leading mobile brand Globe Telecom reinforces its drive to boost internet penetration in the Philippines as it introduces more ways to get Filipinos connected to Facebook with the launch of a complete suite of access to the social networking site without data charges.

Continuing its commitment to enable the Filipino digital lifestyle with access to social networking to connect with people around the world, Globe is offering its customers Facebook with free data with a new in-app feature that allows customers to choose the type of Facebook access, Free Facebook for 7 Days for TM customers, and Free Facebook with a GoSURF subscription.

According to Facebook's official data, as of March 2015, monthly active users on Facebook in the Philippines has reached 43 million. This represents 23% growth when compared to March 2014. On the same period, mobile monthly active users reached 35 million, a 35% growth compared in the previous year. Daily active users hit 23 million, a 28% growth year-on-year. Finally, mobile daily active users in the Philippines reached 18 million, a 50% growth when compared to March 2014.

FACEBOOK WITH FREE DATA

Facebook with free data is a zero-rated, lightweight version of Facebook with limited access to photos and videos. Developed for people who are conscious of spending their mobile data, Facebook with free data will give customers more control over their data usage.

To use Facebook with free data, Globe customers will download and launch the latest version of Facebook for Android. They can also visit www.facebook.com in a browser on their mobile. They will then be prompted to opt in or out of Facebook with free data. If they opt out, they will automatically be directed to the full version of Facebook and charged their regular data rate. Those who opt in can begin browsing Facebook for free.

"We are thrilled to connect more Filipino users to their favorite social networking site and drive the country’s positioning as the Digital Lifestyle Capital of the World. As more customers are embracing the digital lifestyle, we want to provide Filipinos more ways to access Facebook with free data and connect them to the rest of the world,” says Dan Horan, Senior Advisor for Consumer Business at Globe.

People using Facebook with free data will also get a data control button at the top of Facebook, which lets them easily switch between the free and the full versions of Facebook at any time. This button clearly indicates which version of Facebook the customer is currently using, and can be dismissed so as not to disturb browsing.

When a customer clicks a photo within Facebook, an external link, or any content that leads outside the Facebook app, they will be notified that they are leaving Facebook with free data and will be charged for data usage.

FREE FACEBOOK VIA TM CHOOSE-YOUR-NUMBER SIM

Available for the value of only P30, customers who have purchased the TM® Choose-Your-Number SIM will also receive the bonus of free access to the full Facebook experience for 7 days. Besides allowing customers to choose their own mobile number, the SIM also allows customers to register to different call, text, and mobile internet promos.

Mobile devices must be internet-capable and have a maintaining load balance of P1 in order to access free Facebook on TM® SIM cards.

FREE ACCESS TO FACEBOOK VIA GOSURF

For customers who want a full experience of Facebook with photo and video streaming access, they can register to a GoSURF data plan to access the social networking site for free. GoSURF is the telco's consumable data plan which paved the way for mobile users to embrace the habit of mobile browsing, with subscriptions growing by 131% and revenues by 124% over the last year.

As the only telco in the country to offer free access to Facebook with a complete browsing experience with a GoSURF subscription, Globe gives customers access to a full experience which includes viewing of photos, streaming of videos uploaded on Facebook, as well as posting, liking, sharing and making comments on the social networking site. Access to the Messenger app, excluding calls, is also free.

Available to Globe Prepaid and TM customers with a GoSURF subscription and to Globe Postpaid customers who will opt-in to the free Facebook promo, free access to Facebook works on any mobile platform, including the Facebook Android app and browsers (via m.facebook.com), without any maintaining balance.

Postpaid customers can access Facebook for free without any purchase requirement while Prepaid and TM customers will automatically get access upon purchase of any GoSURF promo. The validity of the free access to Facebook offer is the same as the subscribed GoSURF promo. 

Customers who have successfully registered on GoSURF will receive a text message notifying the availability of the free access to Facebook service, and will also see the “Facebook with Free Data” banner at the top of the mobile site or app once the free access to Facebook promo is activated.

Aside from Free Facebook, customers also get free access to premium content such as Spotify and top mobile games with GoSURF. With GoSURF50, customers get 300MB of data to access the internet and an additional free 400MB for music streaming and online mobile gaming for only P50 valid for 3 days. The games include Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Saga, Candy Crush Soda Saga, Summoners War, Hay Day, Boom Beach, Soul Seeker, Dungeon Hunter 5, and Asphalt 8: Airborne. 

To get free access to Facebook on Prepaid or TM via GoSURF, simply register to any GoSURF promo and wait for the Facebook activation notification which will be sent via text message. For customers who wish to avail of the bonus FB trial for TM® SIMs, simply text BONUS FB to 8888. Facebook with free data launches once a customer has updated their FB app to its latest version and will automatically be available to those who are not on Postpaid or any GoSURF plan. For Postpaid customers, opt-in to free Facebook by texting FREE FB ON to 8888. To know more information, text FREE FB to 8888. To inquire about the promo, text FREE FB HELP to 8888. To check status, text FREE FB STATUS to 8888.

To know more or to keep updated about GoSURF, text GoSURF to 8888 or text “GoSURF FREE” to 8888 to get detailed information about the different freebies you can get with the promo. For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph/gosurf.