Globe Telecom today said its LTE coverage – on 700 MHz spectrum – will reach 95 percent of cities and municipalities in the Philippines by the end of 2018.

National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has allowed Globe Telecom for the co-use of the 700 MHz, 2600 MHz, and other spectrum bands, following the acquisition of 50 percent of San Miguel’s telecommunication assets in 2016.

The new spectrum assets enabled Globe to fast-track the rollout of LTE service nationwide, said Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Program Governance, Network Technical Group.

Globe Telecom has deployed nearly 12,000 LTE cell sites using 700 MHz, 2600 MHz, and other spectrum assets. Almost 3,000 of these LTE sites are equipped with 700 MHz, while over 3,700 of these LTE sites are powered by 2600 MHz.

Globe Telecom said the company deployed about 50 percent of new LTE site in NCR/GMA region, 35 percent in North Luzon and South Luzon, while about 15 percent are in Visayas and Mindanao.

The LTE service of Globe Telecom is available in about 90 percent of municipalities and cities as of end-September this year.

OpenSignal results for March 2018 showed that LTE availability in the Philippines rose to 63.70 percent from 44.80 percent in Q3 2016 – the period when Globe first utilized its 700 MHz spectrum assets.

Globe customers were able to access the service 67.5 percent of the time, as compared to its competition’s 59.68 percent, the latest OpenSignal report read.

Globe Telecom has also rolled out 300 massive MIMO sites through the use of high-band spectrum 2600 MHz. Massive MIMO will support Globe Telecom’s 5G investment plan. Globe Telecom aims to bring 5G to homes by the second quarter of 2019.

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