Globe boosts Visayas fiber network rollout

GLOBE Telecom, Inc. is expanding community-based broadband centers in the Visayas as part of efforts to widen fiber internet access and improve customer support services in underserved areas.

“Reliable connectivity has become essential for education, work, business and everyday life,” Jimbo B. Cordero, Globe general manager for the Visayas, said in a statement on Sunday. “By bringing broadband services closer to communities, we are making it easier for more families to access the opportunities that come with a strong internet connection.”

The company said its broadband unit, Globe At Home, is expanding the centers to provide application assistance and connectivity services, particularly in areas located far from traditional service hubs.

Globe said the centers are designed to help residents access information on fiber plans and internet services without needing to travel long distances.

“By establishing a stronger presence at the barangay (village) level, Globe aims to make information about home internet services more visible and accessible,” the company said.

The telecommunication company said it plans to open more broadband centers this month in Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Samar, Leyte, Bohol and Cebu.

Globe has established community-based broadband access points in Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Oriental, Samar, Leyte, Bohol and Cebu.

The expansion forms part of its broader push to strengthen fiber connectivity outside Metro Manila as internet demand continues to grow in provincial areas.

For the first quarter, Globe posted attributable net income of P5.55 billion, down 20% from a year earlier, as higher financing costs and the absence of one-off gains offset growth in revenue and core earnings driven by strong data demand. — Ashley Erika O. Jose