Globe Telecom said on Friday that close to 70% of affected cell sites in Visayas are now up and running following accelerated efforts by the company to restore cellular services in areas hard-hit by the typhoon.
Globe has so far restored 61% of its 3G sites in Antique, 80% in Bohol, 71% in Cebu,100% in Guimaras, 72% in Iloilo, 80% in Negros Occidental, 75% in Northern Samar.
In Leyte province, the telecommunications provider has substantially expanded its cellular service in the area, which now covers the municipalities of Bato, Hilongos, Inopacan, Matalom and Santa Fe and the cities of Ormoc and Tacloban. Globe has also restored more cell sites in Western Samar, where cellular services in Calbayog City, Catbalogan City, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Santa Rita, Villareal and Zumarraga are now available.
In Tacloban City, the company now has two working cell sites, improving substantially cellular coverage in the typhoon-hit city. The reactivation of its cell site located in Calvary Hill is critical as it will now serve as a link-up to the company’s other cell sites in the city. The company expects to reactivate its other remaining cell sites in the city within the week. Globe also has an active cell site near Maharlika Highway.
In addition to the two cellsites, two units of cellsite on wheels (COW) are expected to be operational soon. One unit of COW has been stationed at the airport to provide mobile connectivity to military and government authorities currently coordinating relief and rescue operations in the city. The second of COW will be stationed within the city proper to further improve mobile connectivity in Tacloban.
Aside from Tacloban City, areas in Leyte where Globe also has restored cellular service include Javier, San Miguel and Ormoc City.
In Southern Leyte, Globe has already restored most of its affected sites, bringing back cellular coverage in the municipalities of Anahawan, Libagon, Liloan, Macrohon, Malitbog, Padre Burgos, Pintuyan, Saint Bernard, San Juan, Sogod and Maasin City.
In Western Samar, areas where mobile coverage has been restored include the municipalities of Macrohon, Santa Margarita, Tarangnan, Zumarraga, Calbayog City and Catbalogan while in Northern Samar, municipalities with cellular coverage include Bobon, Catarman, Mondragon, Pambujan and San Roque.
In Aklan, the company has restored its cellular service in Nabas and Malay, including the tourist destination of Boracay.
In Capiz, municipalities with cellular services include Ivisan, Pontevedra and Roxas City. In Iloilo, the following municipalities have mobile coverage: Alimodia, Badiangan, Barolac Nuevo, Cabatuan, Calinog, Passi City, Duenas, Dumangas, Guimbal, Igbaras, Janiuay, Lambunao, Leganes, Lemery, Leon, Maasin, Miagao, Mina, New Lucena, Oton, Pavia, Pototan, San Enrique, San Joaquin, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Tigbauan, Tubungan, Zarraga and Roxas City.
In Antique, Globe’s telecom’s mobile service now covers the municipalities of Anini-y, Barbaza, Belison, Bugasong, Hamtic, Patnongon, San Jose, San Remigio, Sibalom and Tobias Fornier, In Biliran, services are now up in Alburquerque, Alicia and Anda.
On the other hand, majority of cities and municipalities in Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental have cellular services.
Globe has expanded its Libreng Tawag operations, establishing another center in Villamor Air Base for refugees coming from typhoon-stricken areas. The company also has a Libreng Tawag center in Barangay Naga-Naga in Tacloban City.
Globe’s relief operations
Shuns PLDT politics at NTC
The company lambasted Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) to concentrate on addressing the needs of the typhoon victims in the Visayas and avoid divisive discussions on its opposition to the Bayan Telecommunications, Inc. (Bayantel) restructuring and rehabilitation program with Globe at the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
“We at Globe have been working hard and against all odds in bringing back our service to the typhoon-stricken areas of the Visayas as well as helping the victims with their other needs,” Atty. Froilan Castelo, General Legal Counsel of Globe Telecom said when queried on PLDT’s latest move against Bayantel and Globe at the NTC, “and we’d rather not engage in any hostilities initiated by PLDT at a time when our brothers and sisters are in grief.”
Castelo said that he was disturbed upon learning of the PLDT opposition moves because all along, what Globe was doing was to help Bayantel get back on its feet, “and allow Bayantel to continue its operations, ensure the continued employment of 1,100 workers – thereby empowering Bayantel to contribute to the growth of the telecommunications market and industry.” Bayantel is currently servicing about 500,000 customers nationwide.
PLDT recently filed at the NTC its opposition to the Joint Application by Bayantel and Globe for the approval of the conversion of Bayantel’s debt (substantially held by Globe) to equity per the Pasig RTC-directed Master Restructuring Agreement.
PLDT opined that the Joint Application was “anti-competitive, anti-consumer and (of) unfair trade practice.”
Castelo said that “everything’s legal and above board – firstly, this is a valid restructuring and rehabilitation program promulgated by the Pasig RTC Branch 158; secondly, the Office of the Solicitor General has not posed any objections; thirdly, the NTC approved in October, last year, the co-use by Globe of Bayantel’s frequencies in the course of Bayantel’s mandated rehabilitation by the Pasig RTC.”
“This is unlike PLDT’s monopolistic acquisition of Digitel-Sun since Digitel-Sun was a very healthy competitor that was eating, in fact, into PLDT-Smart’s market share,” added lawyer Castelo, “this time, there was broadly-based recognition of the need to rehabilitate Bayantel – foremost among which were its major creditors like Goldman Sachs Group, Clearwater Capital Partners, Avenue Capital and the U.K.-based Spinnaker Capital.
Castelo said that Globe will study the opposition filed by the PLDT at the NTC but “because of the foregoing, we can say this early that the RTC MRA does not propose an anti – competitive, anti-consumer nor an unfair trade practice.”
Scaled down iPhone launch
Meanwhile, unlike previous iPhone launches that were festive and celebratory, Globe Telecom is doing away with a big launch event for the iPhone 5s and 5c this year in light of the recent calamity that affected millions of Filipinos in Visayas.
On top of its existing efforts to aid in disaster relief operations for communities and individuals affected by Typhoon Yolanda, Globe will use its launch event for the newest iPhone models to extend further assistance to the victims of the super typhoon.
Globe will set up a booth where subscribers can register to GCASH to send monetary donations at the speed of sending a text message. Using GCASH as donation facility, subscribers can send money to support the relief operations of the Philippine National Red Cross, one of the most active organizations in the country that conduct relief operations.
Augmenting the donations received at the launch event, Globe will match the total GCASH donations made by its customers.
Customers are also encouraged to bring in-kind donations such as canned goods, noodles, usable clothes, blankets, and mosquito nets, where a special area at the event will accommodate the relief goods.
“As part of our commitment to help in nation-building efforts after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda that affected millions of lives, we are doing away with the usual grand launch event for the iPhone and instead use this platform to augment what we’re doing for our kababayans using our GCASH facility,” said Peter Bithos, Chief Operating Advisor for Consumer Business at Globe. “This year’s launch will also focus on providing a delightful customer experience for subscribers who have trusted our expertise in iPhone and leadership in postpaid.”
Globe recently launched the iPhone 5s and 5c under its suite of first-ever fully-customizable iPhone postpaid plans, including an exclusive upgrade program dubbed as Globe iPhone Forever that allows new and existing subscribers to swap their current devices with an iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c, allowing them to get a new iPhone every year for free or with minimal cashout.
For as low as Plan 1599 under the iPhone Forever suite of plans, subscribers can get the iPhone 5c 16GB for free over a 24-month contract period. Globe subscribers also get one-month free subscription to Globe Gadget Care and free access to Facebook mobile until January 2014. Subscribers who will avail of the newest iPhone devices on launch day are also eligible to avail of a free 1-year subscription to GCASH Virtual Pay and get up to 50% off on iPhone accessories.
