Various local government units granted Globe Telecom a total of 715 permits to build cell sites nationwide to improve its telecommunication and internet services.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Interior and Local Government, Anti-Red Tape Authority, and other government agencies earlier released the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 01 series of 2020, paved the way for faster issuance of telco permits.
In August, Globe managed to secure 411 permits and again acquired 252 more last month to bring its total to 631 building permits.
Globe also said it also secured 84 Certificates of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI) permits in the last two months.
“These permits complement our aggressive builds and roll-outs as we not only increase our capacity and capability but more importantly, we make connectivity possible and accessible in areas that don’t have any access to the internet before,” Joel Agustin, Globe senior vice president for Program Delivery, Network Technical Group, said.
He added that Cavite, Bulacan, Batangas, Rizal, and Pangasinan are among the top five provinces which had issued the most permits to build cell sites.
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Globe granted over 700 permits to build cell sites
A total of 47 provinces and cities including Agusan Del Norte, Zamboanga Del Norte, Zamboanga Del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Maguindanao, Antique, Laguna, Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, Tarlac, South Cotabato, Isabela and La Union had released permits.
Globe said it also garnered positive responses in Cebu, Quezon City, Makati, Davao Del Sur, Cavite, Kalinga Apayao, Romblon, Sorsogon, Sultan Kudarat, and Mandaluyong and 38 other provinces and cities for its network rollouts.
Last month, the telco giant said it has begun moving away from Huawei as the tension between the US and other countries in the west and the Chinese company worsens.
Froilan Castelo, Globe Telecom general counsel, told the Senate committee on public services that the company’s board already started its negotiations with Huawei on replacing equipment supplied by the Chinese telco.
Huawei was accused of spying the US and its allies.
However, Castelo said the trend now in wireless connectivity is toward 5G, of which Huawei is leading by a year and a half compared to other service providers.