050106: Globe launches 3.5G mobile services

By Mary Ann Ll. Reyes
The Philippine Star 05/01/2006

The race for mobile broadband leadership continues as Ayala-owned Globe Telecom becomes the first company in the Asia-Pacific region and among less than 20 in the world to launch the next generation of mobile communications technology.

Following its successful rollout of third generation (3G) services including HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access, commonly referred to as 3.5G), Globe becomes the first telecom company in the Asia-Pacific region and among less than 20 in the world to have launched HSDPA/3.5G capabilities to customers.

Globe is now building the network of the future following the launch of its mobile broadband 3G (third generation technology) with HSDPA or high speed downlink packet access commonly referred to as 3.5G.

Company officials anticipate that subscribers will demand greater functionality from 3G as the service becomes more pervasive and accessible.

HSDPA technology boosts the functionality of 3G by allowing faster data transfer speeds and Internet browsing while still letting subscribers enjoy basic 3G services such as video calls and video streaming.

HSDPA enables data transfer rates of up to 1.4 Megabits per second (Mbps) with peaks of up to 1.8 Mbps – rather than the previous 384 kilobits for 3G. With an HSDPA-data card for example, browsing the Internet on a laptop will be up to 25 times faster than dial-up Internet access.

Mobile customers can also use their notebook or mobile phone to surf the Internet at broadband speeds and download large volumes of data such as movies or large e-mail attachments much faster than before.

With the rapid connection speeds that it delivers, Globe Mobile Broadband 3G with HSDPA opens up a lot of potential for new applications. Users can easily download full-length music tracks or large video files, and experience video streaming or mobile TV. They can also access exclusive content from various partners, including news reports from ABS-CBN, CNN and GMA.

In addition, Globe prepaid and postpaid subscribers can also avail of 3G basic services such as video calling (which allows the calling parties to see each other on their 3G mobile phones), video sharing (which lets users capture and send video clips to each other), and multimedia streaming.

So far, subscribers who tried out the Globe Mobile Broadband 3G service when it was introduced earlier this year have already expressed enthusiastic feedback on the rapid web browsing speeds that it enables.

Allen Bacallan, director for management information systems of General Milling Corp., shares: "I used my 3G phone as a laptop modem in business meetings. My friends and business partners were impressed by the connection speed."

PruLife UK’s vice president for information systems Brett Medel agrees: "3G gives me the freedom to download technical updates, check my email, or even watch TV while on the go. Busy people appreciate having services like these that enrich both their professional and personal lives."

Even showbiz personality Donita Rose was excited by the potential of the technology. "It’s even better than having a broadband connection because you can access information anytime, anywhere," she says.

Globe expects a similarly eager reception from Filipinos for 3G with HSDPA, much like the response to the company’s earlier innovations like text messaging, MMS, over-the-air reloading, and mobile commerce.

Over the years, millions of Filipinos have embraced new developments in communications technology brought about by Globe’s pioneering moves.

Thus, through Globe Mobile Broadband 3G with HSDPA, Filipinos have the unique privilege of being the first in Asia-Pacific to try out the exciting possibilities of this new technology.

Japan’s NTT DoCoMo and Hong Kong’s CSL are among other telcos in the region which also looking into rolling out HSDPA.

On the other hand, apart from Cingular Wireless in the USA and Wataniya Telecom in Kuwait, most HSDPA networks that are already in service are located in Europe.

At least 70 other mobile providers worldwide are in the testing or deployment stages, proving the global promise of this revolutionary technology.

Globe subscribers can now experience Globe Mobile Broadband 3G with HSDPA at regular 2G rates. Demos are available at selected Globe Business Centers in Metro Manila.

The service is available in key cities nationwide, and Globe is continually working to expand its coverage to bring this new service to more Filipinos all over the country and even worldwide.

 

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/news200605010701.htm