Globe ramping up free WiFi coverage nationwide

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. is increasing the coverage of its free WiFi service to more locations this year after undertaking a significant expansion the past year.

In support of national development by providing access to user-friendly and cost-effective internet connectivity to more Filipinos, Globe is expanding its GoWiFi services to more sites around the country, which will range from health and educational institutions to some of the biggest retail establishments.

Among the malls, supermarkets, and convenience stores that will be covered by GoWiFi this year are Araneta Center in Cubao, all branches of Robinsons Supermarket, and select branches of Robinsons Department Store, Puregold and Shopwise.

Globe said part of the existing areas already covered by GoWiFi are Ayala Malls, Megaworld Malls, SM Supermalls, Robinsons Malls, Ortigas and Co., and Starbucks.

GoWiFi services are also available at major transport points such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Metro Rail Transit, and Light Rail Transit stations.

Colleges and universities such as Emilio Aguinaldo College, St. Paul University, and Cebu Doctors University are in line to be equipped with GoWiFi, while clinics and hospitals such as VRP Medical Center along EDSA in Mandaluyong City, Healthserve in Los Baños, Laguna, and select Qualimed branches will also have the free WiFi service.

GoWiFi is accessible in 2,000 sites nationwide as of end-March, up by 500 sites from the previous year. This translates to 20,000 access points from 15,000 in 2018, and to about 18 million sessions per month.

By subscribing to GoWiFi, Globe said users would get to enjoy connection speeds as high as 100 Mbps depending on location.

Globe has earmarked P63 billion or about $1.2 billion for capital expenditures this year, 45.5 percent higher than the P43.3 billion or about $821 million capex spent last year for its ramped-up LTE rollout and address data traffic growth.

The telco giant ended 2018 with mobile subscriber base of 74.1 million and total home broadband subscriber base of over 1.6 million.