NEWS
Globe is PH’s most consistent network
June 3, 2022 2:48 p.m.
As the Most Consistent Mobile Network in the Philippines, Globe improved customer experience across its services in the first quarter of the year, logging faster broadband and mobile connectivity through its constantly improving #1stWorldNetwork.
Globe’s aggressive network expansion to enhance service to customers led to recognition from two international firms covering the first three months of the year: both global analytics firm Ookla® and independent global standard Opensignal* cited Globe’s network consistency.
“This is how we define a “win”, that in the hearts of our customers, Globe’s service is the most consistent, always there for their connectivity needs,” said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu.
“And we have gone way beyond telco. With the customers in our hearts, Globe continues to expand as a digital solutions platform. Now, we address our customers’ needs beyond telco in the areas of fintech, telehealth, edutech, and a host of many other services geared towards the digital enablement of Filipinos,” said Cu.
Based on Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® data, Globe logged a nationwide consistency score of 79.45 from January to March 2022, rising from 70.43 in the same period last year. This score was also a climb from 79.02 registered in Q4 2021.
Ookla’s mobile consistency score is determined by the number of user tests taken that are above a certain speed threshold. The higher the figures, the more likely for customers to enjoy acceptable Internet performance and quality.
Meanwhile, Opensignal recognized Globe for having the Most Consistent Mobile Quality in the Philippines, edging out peers in the Excellent and Core Consistent Quality categories of the Opensignal Mobile Experience Awards*.
The independent global standard recognized Globe with the Excellent Consistent Quality award in its April 2022 Mobile Network Experience Report for the Philippines*, which used data from January 1 to March 31, 2022. Globe’s rating of 51.6 percent was 7.8 percentage points above the nearest competitor.
Globe was also No. 1 in Core Consistent Quality with 74.6 percent, outclassing the nearest contender by 12.8 percentage points.
Opensignal’s Excellent Consistent Quality measures the “percentage of users’ tests that met the minimum recommended performance thresholds to watch HD video, complete group video, conference calls, and play games.”
Core Consistent Quality, meanwhile, is “the percentage of users’ tests that met the minimum recommended performance thresholds for lower performance applications including SD video, voice calls and web browsing.”
Drilling down on data, Globe’s relentless network buildup through new sites and expansions led to improved experience in terms of speed tests, video streaming and web browsing for over 687,000 customers from January to March this year.
This followed Globe’s aggressive builds in the first quarter of the year, with 234 new cell sites up, 3,500 mobile sites upgraded, and 380 new 5G sites installed.
Better experience was felt in 668 towns and cities across the country, notably in several parts of Metro Manila, Northern and Central Luzon, Calabarzon, cities and towns in Cebu, the Negros provinces, Iloilo, Maguindanao, Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat, among many others.
The improvement also meant better experience for users of Globe’s various brands, from prepaid and postpaid to Platinum, and TM users, whether they are using 5G or 4G/LTE devices.
With better experience leading to a rise in data use, Globe posted a record P20.8-billion mobile data revenue in Q1 of this year, the first time in history it breached the P20-billion mark. Mobile data also now accounts for 78% of Globe’s total mobile revenues, up 5 percentage points year-on-year.
“Constant improvement of our customers’ experience is testament to our True North— that is to serve them where it truly matters, from connectivity and beyond,” said Cu.
Globe spent record CAPEX of P92.8 billion in CAPEX in 2021, sustaining it with an P89-billion investment this year to build new cell sites, upgrade existing sites to 4G/LTE, accelerate 5G rollout, and boost the fiberization of Filipino homes nationwide.
To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.
NEWS
Atayde bats for moratorium on student loan payments during emergencies, calamities
March 17, 2023 9:00 p.m.
STUDENTS won’t have to worry paying their loans during times of calamities and emergencies, as Quezon City first district Congressman Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde has introduced a moratorium on the payment of student loans administered by higher educational institutions (HEIs).
The House Bill 7279, which Atayde filed last Feb. 21, headed into its first reading six days later in the Committee on Higher and Technical Education, chaired by Baguio City Rep. Mark O. Go.
He said the bill — once it turns to a law — will halt the payment of all the fees, charges, and costs relating to student loans and technical-vocational training institutions (TVIs) or by the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) during emergencies.
It will cover all students residing in areas declared to be under a state of calamity or emergency — those who are enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), private HEIs, and public and private TVIs.
“We have to find a way to help our students and their families, when natural or even these man-made calamities hit them hard. We just have to make everything easy for them including a moratorium on the payment of student loans,” Atayde said. “It is a burden on a student and their family especially in difficult times like aftermath of typhoon, fire and earthquakes, among other disasters.”
“In the order of spending, student loans will be their least priority since spending will go mostly to basic necessities for survival,” Atayde added.
The moratorium shall be effective for the duration of the state of calamity or emergency and for 30 days after its lifting. No penalties shall be collected on the deferred payments.
“To provide adequate relief and protection to our students in times of calamities and emergencies, this measure shall allow the deferral of student loan collections for a reasonable period during and after the onset of disasters.”
The Quezon City lawmaker cited also the availability of the moratorium, which shall not adversely affect the status of the students concerned with regard to their eligibility for re-enrollment on the succeeding semesters or terms, or their eligibility for graduation.
“The proposed legislation doesn’t prevent public and private HEIs from implementing more favorable forms of payment relief or assistance to students affected by disasters, prohibiting students from voluntarily waiving the moratorium on student loan payments, or availing subsidies and assistance from the government,” Atayde concluded.
NEWS
ShopeePay now available as a payment method for App Store, other Apple services in PH
March 16, 2023 1:59 p.m.
Beginning today, ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, is now available as a payment method for Apple services in the Philippines. Customers can use their ShopeePay account to pay for App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV app, and iTunes Store purchases, iCloud storage and more.
The addition of ShopeePay as an Apple ID payment method offers a new way to pay for Apple services without needing a credit card and still allows for easy, secure one-tap purchasing from Apple products including iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Customers can manage their Apple ID payment information in Settings on iPhone and iPad, or on their Mac or PC.
Agatha Soh, Director at ShopeePay commented, “ShopeePay is committed to meeting the needs of users who are increasingly expecting seamless payments across all platforms. We are excited to offer ShopeePay as a convenient payment option for our customers, and expand access to digital payments, benefitting more users.”
For more information on how to add ShopeePay as a payment method, please visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201266 or https://shopee.ph/m/ShopeePay-Apple-ID-PH.
NEWS
Be bolder, braver, more confident at SM Supermalls’ Women’s Month celebration!
March 8, 2023, 8:30 p.m.
Ladies, take center stage as SM celebrates Women Power throughout the month of March. Lots of activities both online and on-ground are in store to empower women and girls all over the country.
Join the Future of Women Global Summit
SM Supermalls will be joining UN Women in kicking off the IWD 2023 celebration through a women’s summit on March 8, at the SM Aura Premier Samsung Hall. Focusing on the future of women in ICT, the two-part event will gather young women, country leaders, policy makers, and advocates together to share perspectives and affirm their commitment to supporting digital equality for women and girls.
Photo courtesy of SM City Lucena
Photo courtesy of SM City San Jose del Monte
Support your local Womenpreneurs
Great finds for ladies are on sale at the SM Womenpreneur Market! This pop-up of small and medium businesses owned by women for women will give you everything you need from food and beauty to wellness and fashion!
Wednesdays are for women!
Shopping on Wednesdays has become even more tempting because the Women’s Wednesday Sale is back! Achieve the glow-up you deserve with special discounts, deals, and promos on fashion, beauty, and fitness exclusively for women every Wednesday of March. So don’t hold back on your shopping; you deserve all these and more!
A beautiful treat of wellness all for you
Forda glow-up and pampering sesh tayo this month because lots of self-care deals are available at the Women’s Wellness Sale. Avail of great deals from wellness salons on facials, hair and body treatments, nail care, and massage from March 1 to March 31.
And more deals online!
Special deals are up for women via the SM Malls Online app. Get the best brand offerings every Wednesday from shoes and beauty and wellness to home and hobbies. Use the code WOMEN and get an extra 10% off, capped at 250. What’s great is that there’s no minimum purchase required!
Also, a collection of brand vouchers will be sent to all women SM Malls Online shoppers valid all month. Wait for your Beauty Pass and give yourself the retail therapy you deserve with tons of discounts, GWP deals, samplers, in-store pick up bonuses, and mystery boxes!
Plus, the SM Malls Online app will be hosting self-care sessions online. Follow SM Supermalls on social media to get a dose of starter packages, Get-Ready-With-Me routines, and beauty products that your favorite beauty experts swear by.
Photo courtesy of SM City East Ortigas
Photo courtesy of SM City Manila
Celebrate Women Power on IG!
Capture the beauty and power of women at the beautiful spots and installations all over SM. Be free to express your own uniqueness and creativity in the specially-designed selfie spaces in partnership with Selfie Studio. Don’t forget to tag us on IG!
We don’t know about you but exciting days await every SM woman. So be bolder, braver, and more confident! With these activities, you can confidently step forward in fashion, beauty, wellness, and express yourselves to make a positive impact.
Stay updated on all things women this IWD 2023 by visiting www.smsupermalls.com and following @smsupermalls on social media.
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