Globe Telecom said it rolled out 256 new 5G sites across the Philippines in the first half of 2024, increasing the company's outdoor 5G coverage in the National Capital Region (NCR) to 98.45%.

Also known as Metropolitan Manila, the NCR – located on the island of Luzon – is the political, economic and educational center of the country and consists of 16 cities and one municipality.

Globe Telecom also expanded its outdoor 5G coverage to 94.15% in key cities in Visayas and Mindanao in the first half of the year.

With this latest build, the Filipino mobile operator has accelerated the deployment of 5G technology in a country that is still struggling to provide affordable and fast Internet services to its subscribers.

"Our aggressive 5G rollout across the country is a crucial part of our strategy to ensure that the Philippines is at the forefront of digital transformation," said Joel Agustin, SVP and head of service planning and engineering at Globe Telecom, in a statement.

"We are proud to see how our investments are resulting in positive change, enabling our customers to enjoy seamless digital experiences wherever they are," he added.

Growing 5G subscriptions

At the end of 2023, the mobile operator expanded its 5G footprint across the country with 894 new sites while registered 5G subscribers reached more than 5.8 million. Globe Telecom said that by June 2024, the number of 5G subscriptions had increased to more than seven million.

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"This is a clear indicator of the growing demand for high-speed mobile data and the company's ability to meet that demand," Globe Telecom said.

Meanwhile, the mobile operator has also ensured that its 5G subscribers can connect abroad by increasing its 5G roaming partnerships from 156 global telecom partners in 82 countries to 167 operators in 87 countries in the first half of the year.