ADVERTISEMENT

Southeast Asia’s First 5G Internet for Homes Is in Philippines

Philippines to get 5G wireless broadband next month, the first commercially available internet with such speed in Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asia’s First 5G Internet for Homes Is in Philippines
An illuminated 5G sign hangs behind a weave of electronic cables on the opening day of the MWC Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain. (Photographer: Angel Garcia/Bloomberg)  

(Bloomberg) -- Globe Telecom Inc. will offer next month a fifth generation or 5G wireless broadband for Philippines homes, the first commercially available internet with such speed in Southeast Asia, the company said.

“We made a crucial step in fulfilling our goal of connecting more Filipino homes,” Ernest Cu, president at Globe, said in a statement. Offering 5G speed, which is faster and more secure, will help the company’s 2020 goal of connecting 2 million households to its various home internet products from 1.7 million in the first quarter, Cu said.

The venture of Ayala Corp. and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. will initially offer 5G packages in Pasig City in the capital region and in nearby provinces of Cavite and Bulacan. Globe's share price was little changed at 2,218 pesos on Friday morning.

Globe's statement didn't say which company it tapped for the home 5G. Last month, a Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd spokeswoman in the Philippines said Globe and rival PLDT Inc. both committed to continue 5G initiatives with the Chinese tech company.

To contact the reporter on this story: Siegfrid Alegado in Manila at aalegado1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Cecilia Yap at cyap19@bloomberg.net, Clarissa Batino

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.