Globe Telecom Inc. said Friday internet speed zoomed more than 50 percent in one year amid the steady investments in network upgrade and infrastructure development.
Results of the Speedtest Intelligence Q3 2021 data by Ookla showed that Globe mobile’s median download speed across all technologies surged 60 percent to 13.53 megabits per second compared with the third quarter of 2020.
Globe mobile’s median upload speed also jumped 51 percent to 3.96 Mbps compared to the same quarter last year.
It noted an improved latency at 25 milliseconds in the third quarter this year from 31 ms. in the same quarter last year. Latency is the time it takes for information to be transmitted from the source to its intended destination. A lower latency score is better.
Globe said in terms of 5G technology, its 5G network was three times faster than mobile WiFi. It is also six times faster than that of 4G LTE.
“We are glad our aggressive and sustained network builds and upgrades continue to bear fruit as shown by enhanced overall customer data experience,” said Joel Agustin, Globe senior vice president of network technical group.
Globe attributed the continuous improvements in mobile network speeds to steady investments in network upgrades and infrastructure development.
The digital solutions provider raised its capital expenditures to an unprecedented P76 billion this year as part of its commitment to deliver first-world network to customers.
This allowed Globe to install 1 million fiber-to-the-home lines as of end-September, construct 641 new cell towers and upgrade 8,175 sites to 4G LTE as of end-June. It also established over 1,800 5G equipped cell towers nationwide and raised its 5G outdoor coverage in the National Capital Region to 95 percent.
Globe spent P60.3 billion for its capital expenditures last year to improve its network as companies adopted hybrid or work-from-home arrangements and students shifted to distance learning setup due to mobility restrictions.
Globe’s nationwide consistency score improved for three straight quarters to 76.64 in the third quarter from 75.98 in the second quarter and 70.43 in the first three months of the year.
Mobile consistency score is determined by the number of tests taken that are above a certain speed threshold. The higher the figure is, the more likely for consumers to enjoy acceptable internet performance and quality.