Globe boosts underground network

Globe Telecom is boosting its underground fiber network to avoid financial losses and service outages due to repeated cable cuts.

In a statement over the weekend, the Ayala-backed telco said it completed the rollout of 1,500 kilometers of fiber cable across the country.

This has enabled Globe to prevent more than 190 incidents and network disruptions. It also saw a sharp decline in theft-related cuts, particularly in “high-risk areas,” such as Quezon City.

Globe said it has also improved its cable layout design methodology. This is meant to ensure that existing and upcoming aerial and underground fiber layouts are resilient against roadworks and external threats.

Aside from relocating its cabling system underground, Globe has also strengthened its partnership with authorities and local government units.

All these efforts resulted in an 18-percent drop in total fiber cut incidents in the first six months of 2025, Globe said.

Accidents, theft

The telco has been working closely with government agencies to prevent fiber cuts and theft. It previously called on the Department of Public Works and Highways and its contractors to be careful with diggings for road projects. Globe said multiple fiber cuts lead to poor services and additional repair costs for the company.

“A reliable network is essential to support the country’s growing digital economy, and these results affirm that our proactive approach is delivering measurable results,” said Joel Agustin. He is senior vice president and head of service planning and engineering at Globe.

“The [telecommunications] landscape is shifting and we need hyper-focused, proactive measures to safeguard our infrastructure,” Agustin added.

Globe has set a goal of further ramping up its investments, tagging 1,200 wireless and broadband nodes and 1,600 kilometers of backbone fiber for underground migration.

In the first half of 2025, capital spending was scaled down by 33 percent to P18.9 billion. Of that amount, 91 percent was invested in beefing up Globe’s digital infrastructure.

Globe earlier reported that its net income in the first half dropped by 14 percent to P12.4 billion from P14.53 billion.

Normalized net income, excluding one-off gains, fell by 16 percent to P10 billion.