Eastern Communications Activates Submarine Cable PDSCN 'Express Route,' Improving Reliable Connectivity in Typhoon-Prone Regions

Manila, Philippines — Eastern Communications has completed its "Express Route'' project as part of the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) joint venture, enhancing the Philippines' connectivity reliability. This initiative aims to provide robust and inclusive internet connectivity, with a focus on improving services in regions frequently affected by typhoons and natural calamities.

The PDSCN Express Route became operational on February 9, encompassing the following points: Lucena City, Quezon; Boac, Marinduque; Calatrava, Tablas Island, Romblon; Roxas City, Capiz; Placer, Masbate; Palompon, Leyte; Lapu-Lapu, Cebu; Talisay City, Cebu; Tagbilaran City, Bohol; and Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental.

With the PDSCN Express Route active, Eastern Communications is ready to facilitate on-ground connections and offer improved bandwidth to meet the varied needs of Filipinos, particularly in areas prone to cable faults, typhoons, and natural disasters.

"We celebrate the completion of Eastern’s PDSCN Express Route with all Filipinos. Together, we welcome a new era of possibilities and build a more reliable connectivity infrastructure for all," said Delfin Lopez, Eastern Communications’ AVP and Head of Network Planning, Engineering and Implementation.

The PDSCN Express Route is a 1,000-kilometer network of submarine and terrestrial fiber optic cables connecting South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The route was strategically designed to be composed of at least 80 percent of cables laid via submarine and less than 20 percent of cables laid in-land. By minimizing the terrestrial fiber network, the Express Route aims to reduce the likelihood and frequency of network faults caused by cable cuts on road networks. 

“While roadwork development is in place in these areas, the completion of the PDSCN Express Route becomes pivotal in laying a solid groundwork for a more reliable connectivity and driving digital empowerment nationwide," said Eastern Communications’ PDSCN Consultant Albert Tuason.

The entire PDSCN initiative, which commenced last July 2022 in Subic, Zambales, has been a collaborative effort with co-owners Globe Group and InfiniVAN Inc., and spans a total cable distance of 2,500 kilometers, with landing cables established in 32 Point of Interconnect (POI) sites.

As the PDSCN initiative continues to unfold, it holds the promise of transforming the digital landscape of the Philippines, paving the way for a more connected and resilient nation.

Building a digitally empowered Philippines

The PDSCN project was among the infrastructure and product expansion efforts recognized in Eastern Communications' winning entry at the 2023 Asian Telecom Awards entitled “Eastern Communications Strengthens Infrastructure & Product Portfolio to Swiften Digitalization of Philippine Businesses.” The winning entry underscores Eastern's support for digitizing cities and urban centers primed for rapid growth and opportunities. The entry won the B2B Client Initiative of the Year.

Furthermore, Eastern Communications was honored with the Philippines Customer Experience of the Year award in the Telecommunications category at the 2023 Asian Experience Awards. Emphasizing its dedication to meeting customer needs and delivering "high-tech and high-touch service," the company aims to replicate its unparalleled and authentic customer experiences as it expands its presence nationwide.

 

To learn more about Eastern Communications’ business-grade internet and ICT solutions, contact 5300-7000 or visit www.eastern.com.ph

Distort Monsters headlines Globe Platinum’s Pop-Up Store Launch for 917 #ExtraGDayEveryday

Globe Platinum collaborated with renowned contemporary and street artist Distort Monsters at the launch of the Platinum Series Hub for its first-ever pop-up store in celebration of the annual 917 #ExtraGDayEveryday in September.

Customers at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) Amphitheater were treated to the live mural painting of Distort Monsters, who shared inspiration and motivation for his craft.

 

Globe Platinum also prepared a surprise game at the end of the program to drive customers to the Platinum Series Hub, which is open until October 30 on the corner of 26th Avenue and 9th Street in BGC, Taguig City.

 

At the event, visitors were invited to a Monster Hunt and to follow the trail of signages from the amphitheater to the Hub, and snap and share all four monsterized ‘0917’ online with the hashtag #GlobePlatinum #OwnTheExtraordinary. All successful hunters won a P500 discount off their exclusive and very limited Distort Monsters merchandise and wearable art. 

 

To make their Platinum experience even more EXTRA, guests shopped for exclusive Globe Platinum x Distort Monsters merchandise while grooving to live music by DJ David Ardiente and enjoying specialty drinks curated from premium bottles of Diageo’s Rare and Exceptional portfolio, Mortlach 12-Year-Old and Singleton 18-Year-Old.  Customers were able to use their Globe Rewards points to redeem the drinks during Happy Hour. 

 

“We are delighted to provide our customers with exciting sensory experiences, introduce latest Tech Innovations, and allow them to feel how it is to be a Platinum VIP, giving them access to exclusive and one-of-a-kind perks like this. We are also grateful to our partners for giving their 100 percent to make sure our guests enjoyed this very rewarding event,” said Kaisie del Carmen-San Pablo, Head of Globe Platinum Business. 

 

The Hub also showcased Globe Platinum’s latest  innovation and first-in-the-market, Platinum ONE Plan. A lounge area was set up for anyone to test Globe Platinum’s Priority 5G network and UNLI Fiber and inquire about the Platinum service from stationed Relationship Managers.

 

Experience BEST-IN-CLASS service by visiting The Platinum Series Hub.  Guests can also enjoy Happy Hours with Diageo every Friday and Saturday.

 

G Day is Globe’s annual tradition of giving back to its customers. Exciting rewards and surprises await everyone until Oct. 30 to transform ordinary days into something extraordinary. 

 

Learn more about Globe Platinum and its latest Tech Innovations, Rewarding Perks and Best-in-Class service by visiting www.globe.com.ph/platinum 

Drag Race Philippines creates ‘herstory’ at Globe’s G Music Fest with First Complete Public Performance

“Pop off!”

Core memory unlocked for loyal Globe subscribers with the spectacular stage act of 12 glamorous queens from the popular reality competition Drag Race Philippines at the recently held G Music Fest.

It was a surprise for fans at the festival as the queens’ presence at the music fest was only announced the night before the event.

In celebration of Globe’s annual customer event, the most-awaited G Music Fest gave festival-goers a show to remember. Joining a star-studded lineup of local and international acts, the Drag Race Philippines Queens made “herstory” as they performed the complete “Pop Off Ate” version for the first time to a crowd of roughly 6,000 at the Circuit Events Grounds Makati on September 17.

Drag Race Philippines is the Philippine edition of the famous RuPaul’s Drag Race, a show that has drawn a cult following around the world. The show is produced by Fullhouse Asia Production Studios, Inc. in conjunction with World of Wonder Productions, Inc. Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, and RuPaul Charles serve as executive producers on the series.

The show features 12 queens— Brigiding, Corazon, Eva Le Queen, Gigi Era, Lady Morgana, Marina Summers, Minty Fresh, Precious Paula Nicole, Prince, Turing, Vinas De Luxe and Xilhouete— in a fierce battle to be crowned the Philippines’ first Drag Superstar. 

The show is available to stream on discovery+ and HBO Go.

The Queens’ appearance at G Music Fest was an unexpected treat for many fans, who said Drag Race Philippines’ contestants were the highlight of the night for them.

“Naiyak ako, nakita ko na sila. Gaganda nila,” one fan said.

“Is it just me being too emotional when watching “Pop Off Ate” being performed live by Drag Race Philippines Queens in #GMusicFest?? They’re making herstory! Kaka-proud!,” said another fan.

Other than serving fierce looks onstage, the queens also called for support for the Hapag Movement, Globe’s advocacy program on fighting involuntary hunger through technology.

In collaboration with their mobilization partners Ayala Foundation, Caritas Philippines, Tzu Chi Philippines and World Vision, the Hapag Movement aims to rally Filipinos behind a collective effort to help create sustainable livelihood opportunities and provide food relief to families in need through digital solutions, including Globe Rewards and GCash. A donation of just P50 affords one meal for the needy.

Bringing together the Drag Race Philippines Queens on the G Music Fest stage was just one of the many treats Globe prepared for customers on 917 GDay.

“The G Music Fest is all about extraordinary experiences, so we were delighted to see our customers enjoying their hearts out with the queens during the event. We hope that with the G Music Fest, we were able to banner local talents and opened the doors for more Filipinos to discover their passions,” said Jerome Patalud, Head of Globe Rewards.

The festival fulfilled its promise of bringing the best of the best in music, entertainment, culture, and arts.  Loyal Globe subscribers also had fun at experiential booths as they brought home freebies along with precious memories.

GDay, an annual event held every September 17 as a symbol of Globe’s iconic 0917 mobile number prefix, enables customers to get first access to on-ground, digital, and virtual experiences.  To watch and enjoy the festivities even if you missed the G Music Fest, visit the first-ever metaverse of GlobeXBud Virtual World.  Socialize with your friends and even take pictures for a 917 #ExtraGDayEveryday experience.

To learn more about GDay, visit  glbe.co/ExtraGDay.

Globe At Home Customers get 100 Mbps Average Internet Speed Under FREE Plan Realignment

Existing Globe At Home postpaid customers can now enjoy an average internet speed of 100 Mbps with free broadband upgrades, giving them greater bandwidth to accomplish their daily tasks and enjoy leisure time online.

“We always ensure to give our postpaid customers the right combination of value and price so they get the best experience. We realize this by providing them the best connectivity options in the market with the most affordable rates at the offered speeds,” said Globe At Home Brand Management head Janis Legaspi-Racpan.

As a testament, one user shared via Twitter a screenshot of a speedtest with a download speed of 353.35 Mbps and an upload speed of 320.56 Mbps.

“Perks of being loyal with @enjoyGlobe. Free internet speed upgrade,” read the tweet.

Another customer expressed appreciation for the free permanent Globe At Home Fiber speed upgrade. He shared a screenshot of a speedtest showing a download speed of 352.50 Mbps and an upload speed of 315.64 Mbps, more than twice the previous speeds.

Providing accessible and fast connectivity through GFiber plans is part of Globe’s mission to provide a #1stWorldNetwork to Filipinos nationwide and its goal to foster innovation and infrastructure to drive economic development, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Current Globe At Home customers who want to check for the right speed for their plans may file their requests via Globe At Home Facebook messenger.

Meanwhile, existing Globe At Home customers who want more than the free speed upgrade can also get up to 2x their previous speed for only a P200 add-on. They can upgrade online via https://www.globe.com.ph/broadband/plan-upgrade/request.html.

Those who want an upgraded digital lifestyle can choose between GFiber Unli 2399 and 2999 with speeds of up to 300 and 600 Mbps respectively. It is good for up to 15 devices that family members can use for browsing, email, video calls, downloading large files, video streaming in HD, multiplayer gaming, and enabling an intelligent home. They also get exclusive access to the VIP hotline for aftersales concerns on troubleshooting, billing, etc.

Customers who upgrade to GFiber UNLI plan 2399 (300Mbps) and GFiber UNLI Plan 2999 (600Mbps) will get two Huawei AX3 mesh units as part of the bundle.

“We are currently offering the most competitive prices for faster internet in the market, giving Filipinos access to first world internet speeds like that of Singapore, Japan, and Korea for their homes. This also helps improve connections within the home, bringing families closer as they create more moments and memories together,” Racpan said.

To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

PCTA Members Empower their Communities to Advance and Adapt to the New Normal

Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association, Inc. (PCTA), together with its members, continue to support the government efforts in improving communications and connectivity services for the public. The pandemic increased the need for stable internet access for social, economic, and educational needs and over 150 internet service provider (ISP) members of the PCTA are at the forefront to help the communities they serve transition into the new normal.

“Providing adequate bandwidth allocation and ensuring that internet service and signals are accessible to our communities are among PCTA’s priorities to support more Filipinos during unprecedented times. We doubled our efforts to improve internet services even in underserved areas,” Joel Dabao, president of PCTA said.

Cotabato Cable Television Network Corporation, one of PCTA’s active members, has put in a lot of work to deliver high quality service and bring the world to the homes of their subscribers in Cotabato City. It has earned the trust of government offices and became the city government’s official internet provider.

Cotabato Cable empowers its community of 3,200 households by providing convenient subscription plans and bundling cable TV with Internet of up to 12mbps in speed for subscribers who shifted to Fiber To The Home (FTTH) system. At the peak of the pandemic, they ensured that they lay out good signal and cable programs that would entertain the elders, help employees who work from home and students who attend their online classes. Cotabato Cable also gave the Department of Education free cablecasting of their modules from Mondays through Fridays.

Bongao Cable TV Network, Inc., one of PCTA’s member operators, has been providing internet service in the Salug Valley Province since 2016. At the start of the pandemic, Bongao Cable extended their services and upgraded their system, availing a higher bandwidth to cater to the needs of their subscribers.

They help schools and learning communities to set-up their online learning by providing a higher bandwidth and reasonable packages. They also support their local government units, specifically the Mayor’s office, to integrate and offer their services online that extends aid to the people in the municipality.

With their constant effort to provide internet services even in the farthest municipalities of the province of Zamboanga del Sur, subscribers no longer need to relocate as they can confidently work from home. Bongao Cable TV Network, Inc. offers the highest internet plan speed of up to 20mbps using the FTTH technology

Bongao cable continuously looks for more ways to upgrade their system to serve their ever-growing number of subscribers without increasing their basic rate for cable TV, at the same time not compromising the quality of their service. In addition, they exercise leniency in the collection of monthly payments understanding the challenges of these unprecedented times.

“As our nation moves forward to recovery, PCTA and its member operators will continue to serve reliable internet connectivity that will empower Filipinos especially in far-flung areas to accelerate and thrive in the digital transformation era,” Dabao added.

For more information about the PCTA and its members nationwide, visit www.pcta.org.ph



ABOUT PCTA

The PHILIPPINE CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (PCTA), INC. is the umbrella organization of nationwide Cable Television Operators and Internet Service Providers in the Philippines. Its membership roster includes the biggest cable operators in the country as well as the medium and small cable operators who, through their pain-staking efforts, have succeeded in bringing up-to-date programs, information, and technology to the farthest island in the country. To date, the PCTA has over 300 regular members. Together, the PCTA member-cable operators are serving 75% of the total cable TV subscribers in the Philippines.