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Globe Telecom and the Cauayan City government have hammered out a strategic partnership to deliver 1st world internet services as well as create a digital cashless ecosystem, which will be undertaken through GCash.
The partnership involves deployment of an integrated network plan to improve mobile coverage and provide high-speed internet service in the city. The rollout forms part of Globe Telecom’s One Digital City initiative, intended to expand network coverage and enhance capacities, particularly for fixed-line, in a bid to elevate the state of the country’s internet.
“Accelerating ICT development enhances inclusive economic development as it significantly improves delivery of public services, enables enterprises to access valuable information and spur transformation in growth areas. We are grateful for the support that the Cauayan city government extended to Globe and we hope to replicate this partnership in other areas in the country,” Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu said.
As part of using technology for governance, GCash, the mobile money platform of Globe, and Cauayan City have embarked on a pioneer initiative to implement the co-branded Citizen ID cards initially for 5,000 government employees and constituents to provide easy access to social and financial services that will bolster the economy forward. Eventually, the IDs will be rolled-out to all 130,000 constituents of the city.
The Citizen ID may be used to electronically pay government fees and taxes, utilities and other bills electronically and purchases from local merchants; for disbursement of salaries, stipends, allowances and other benefits to citizens, government employees and volunteers; and in the provision of easy, fast and flexible Fuse loans for sustainable livelihood development programs for micro and small and medium enterprises.
Enabling e-payments will help increase access to social and financial services for citizens, reduce opportunity cost lost in cash handling, and tighten security of funds and transparency in government transactions.
Globe has been aggressively ramping up network investments as it gained access to new spectrum resources following partial acquisition of San Miguel’s telecommunication assets such as the 700 megahertz (MHz). Specifically, the company committed to deploy 4,500 sites in about 95% of cities and municipalities in the country within a 3-year period.
The company’s collaboration with the Cauayan city government is also in line with its initiative, which started early this year, of creating an internet superhighway by deploying high-speed broadband technology. Specifically, the company plans to deploy high-speed broadband technology in 2 million homes nationwide by 2020.
Globe has also been pouring significant investment for its corporate data network with additional investment of $50 million. The company started rolling out a capacity expansion program for its corporate data network to address bandwidth requirement of its enterprise clients as they make use of various data solutions to improve business efficiency, enhance productivity, and boost competitiveness. With the partnership, the initiative to enhance Globe Telecom’s corporate data network is also expected to benefit enterprises based in Cauayan as well as help promote social inclusion through technology.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
