Globe Telecom commercially rolls out 4CC LTE-A in Manila

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Globe Telecom says it has become the first cellco in the Philippines to commercially deploy LTE-Advanced 4 component carrier (4CC) spectrum aggregation using the 2600-MHz band, effectively doubling LTE capacity.

Joel Agustin, Globe’s senior vice president for Program Governance, Network Technical Group, said the availability of the new spectrum allocation in the 2600 MHz, following the company’s partial acquisition of San Miguel’s telecommunication assets last year, boosts Globe’s capability in further improving the mobile internet browsing experience. Specifically, the company is making use of the 4CC spectrum aggregation in expanding and enhancing its LTE coverage.

The 4CC technology uses four distinctly separate blocks of the 2600 MHz spectrum that is aggregated by LTE-A eNode B equipment to generate speeds of up to 400 Mbps.

“This is the first time that a telco operator in the Philippines is making use of this 4-component carrier spectrum LTE-Advanced technology and we are maximizing the potential of the new spectrum assigned to us for the benefit of our customers,” Agustin said.

So far, Globe has already deployed the technology in 110 sites mostly in Metro Manila, Agustin said. The initial deployment covers most areas in Makati and certain areas in Quezon City, Marikina, Antipolo, and San Mateo.

Augustin admitted that most commercially available devices only support 2CC aggregation technology, but added that customers in 4CC coverage areas still stand to benefit from the increased data capacity.

This year, the company plans to roll out the technology in more than 500 sites. Aside from Metro Manila, Globe plans to deploy 4CC LTE-A in key areas in North Luzon and South Luzon to increase data and in preparation for the availability of 4CC compatible devices.

Since June last year, Globe has deployed around 2600-MHz LTE sites in about 1,200 mostly in Visayas and Mindanao.

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