Globe said that its aggressive network expansion and accelerated rollout of 5G connectivity continues to help improve the Digital Quality of Life (DQL) in the Philippines.
In the third annual DQL Index conducted by virtual private network (VPN) service provider Surfshark, the Philippines rose to 48th place in 2021 from 66th place last year out of 110 countries surveyed. The Philippines ranked 12th out of 32 Asian countries ahead of Indonesia (72nd overall), Vietnam (73rd), Laos (102nd), and Cambodia (108th).
Surfshark’s DQL Index covers five key areas namely internet quality, internet affordability, electronic security, electronic infrastructure, and electronic government. The Philippines scored high in internet quality (20th overall) and electronic security (30th overall). It also ranked first in Mobile Speed Improvement and Broadband Speed Improvement in the DQL survey.
“The significant jump in the country’s DQL rankings is welcome news and affirms Globe’s accelerated upgrading and expansion efforts to widen network coverage, boost connectivity speeds, and introduce first-world technologies. We aim to sustain this momentum and contribute more to give Filipinos a better, more meaningful digital life amid this pandemic,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO.
To date, the company has over 1,800 5G locations in the country covering major cities and population centers namely the National Capital Region, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Boracay, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos. Zamboanga will soon be covered with 5G cell sites. More Globe 5G sites will continuously go on stream in the coming months and years.
With speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G, 5G technology offers the fastest connectivity and download speeds, ultra-low latency, greater bandwidth, superior network reliability, and ability to connect to more devices.
5G technology’s improved performance and enhanced efficiency empower new user experiences and capabilities. It enables frontier technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Edge Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Industrial IoT, immersive learning, among many others. It is also expected to positively impact many sectors including manufacturing, transportation, logistics, healthcare, agriculture, and education.
Aside from 5G, Globe is ramping up its site installations. As of June 2021, Globe has built 641 new towers while 8,175 mobile sites have been upgraded. It has also completed one million fiber lines as demand for fixed-line internet continues to surge. This will allow subscribers to access faster internet speeds and stream better quality videos and webinars.
Globe said that the accelerated network rollouts utilizing 5G and fiber technologies are beginning to pay off. Average fixed broadband download speeds as of June 2021 have nearly tripled to 66.55 Mbps from just 25.34 Mbps in August 2020. Parallel to this, average mobile download speeds have more than doubled to 32.84 Mbps from 16.44 Mbps over the same period.
According to the Benchmarking the 5G Experience-Asia Pacific June 2021 report by Opensignal, the Philippines’ 5G download speed is now at 141 Mbps, which is among the fastest in the region. The Philippines is among the top Asia-Pacific countries, ranking 6th in download speed and peak download speed. It also placed 8th in 5G upload speed.
“The positive results from these regional and global third-party studies inspire us to do better. Our connectivity improvements enable a greater number of Filipinos to solve their everyday problems, thrive in the new normal, and actively participate in the digital economy. We are definitely on the right track,” added Cu.
Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, highlighting the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. The company is committed to contributing to 10 UN SDGs.
To read about Surfshark’s DQL Index, visit surfshark.com/dql2021. To know more about Globe, visit globe.com.ph.