Globe Network Investments to Amplify Benefits of New Spectrum Assets; Continuously Enhance Mobile Network

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Globe Telecom’s additional network investments will be used mainly to amplify benefits of the telecommunication operator’s new spectrum assets to further enhance its mobile services particularly for data.

The company recently announced an additional capital spend of $300 million for the year in an effort to continuously improve mobile data services. More than half of the additional capital expenditures or $160 million will be devoted to deploying cell sites using the 700 megahertz spectrum as well as additional spectrum in the 2600 MHz band, said Globe Chief Information and Technology Officer Gil Genio.

This year alone, the company has allotted around $400-$500 million in investments for mobile. The company expects to do more in the future, said Genio, speaking at the 1st DICT Summit in the country.

He said the company is targeting to roll out additional 700 sites for LTE 700 MHz in major cities in the country including Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao. So far, the company has around 260 LTE 700 MHz sites. The company also plans to deploy close to 2,700 sites for LTE 2600 band. Additional core and transport upgrades will also be undertaken, Genio said.

In addition to investments for mobile, Globe is also aggressively ramping up investments for its corporate data network with additional investment of $50 million, and for home broadband deployment with $90 million more capex.

During the conference, Genio also reiterated the need for the rationalization of permitting process for the establishments of cell sites. He revealed that Globe has a backlog of 3000 sites amid difficulties in securing permits from various local government units, homeowners associations and other government agencies. This is in light of the 4,500 sites committed by Globe to the NTC as part of a 3-year rollout plan as it acquired new telco assets from the SMC sellout.

“We need to dramatically improve cell site coverage in the Philippines,” Genio emphasized, noting that the country only has about 21,000 total cell sites compared about 55,000 in Vietnam. According to Genio, Globe is able to put up 400 to 500 towers every year, or half of its target of 1,000 sites due to permitting challenges.

Photo caption: Globe Chief Information and Technology Officer Gil Genio

Industry Experts to Answer Biggest Real Estate Questions at Lamudi Housing Fair

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From how to enter the Airbnb business to the benefits of a rent-to-own home, some of the property industry’s burning questions will be tackled by experts in the field

Several experts of the real estate industry will gather together and answer the most frequently asked questions regarding property buying, selling, and more at the Lamudi Housing Fair, happening on November 18–20, 2016, at Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong.

“We’re very excited to hold the first-ever Lamudi Housing Event. We’re working with a lot of great minds in the industry to ensure that attendees will come to the event and increase their knowledge of how to carry out their real estate transactions successfully, especially in the midst of the Philippine property boom,” said Lamudi Philippines founder and CEO Jacqueline van den Ende.

The three-day event will consist of several seminars covering various real estate topics from property buying and financing to selling and marketing, as well as predictions about the Philippine real estate landscape. The series of seminars will open with a talk from Colliers International Manager of Research Joey Bondoc on current market conditions and where the biggest investment opportunities can be found, as well as his outlook regarding the most profitable real estate locations in the Philippines.

Causes of Obesity We Need To Know

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Being overweight or being obese refers to the body weight that is greater than what is considered healthy for a certain height. Although many people consider losing weight, or make an effort to avoid being overweight or obese because of their physical appearance, there is more to it than meets the eye. Truthfully, there are serious health risks that we need to address when someone is overweight or obese. This is not just about how the clothes don’t fit well anymore, how it is hard to move and even have an active lifestyle. An overweight or obese person is at high risk in having chronic diseases such as Coronary Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, Gallstones and even cancer! To avoid having these health hazards, we must be able to avoid having excess weight or being obese—and by knowing the causes, we might be able to successfully avoid being obese!

Causes of Obesity:

1. Lack of Energy Balance – Lack of energy balance happens when one takes in more calories than what is used. Energy IN is the amount of calories you take while Energy OUT is the amount of calories you use. If there is no balance in the energy you take in and use up, the probability of weight gain is high.

2. Inactive Lifestyle – An inactive lifestyle is when you spend hours sitting down, watching TV and purposely choosing lying around than exercising. With this kind of lifestyle, weight gain is very much possible. This is because the amount of energy you are using is not the same as the energy you take in from food and drinks. When you prefer to ride cars, use elevators and escalators all the time, you are just putting your energy on rest which results to weight gain.

3. Environment – The place we live in, the place we are exposed to are a huge part of our health choices. Like the lack of affordable gym that people can use anytime, lack of sidewalks and bike lanes. Huge meal portions at restaurants, lack of healthy food choices that are made affordable for the general public. Even the working schedules are not health friendly at all. With this kind of environment, we are exposed to an unhealthy lifestyle/

4. Genes and Family History – Mostly, obesity is carried out because of family history. Families share food and activities together so if a family eats unhealthily and live a sedentary lifestyle, weight gain or even obesity may follow. This is because a person adapts the unhealthy lifestyle he/she gets exposed to.

5. Health Conditions – Some hormone problems may cause overweight and obesity, such as underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), Cushing's syndrome, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Underactive thyroid is a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn't make enough thyroid hormone. Lack of thyroid hormone will slow down metabolism which causes weight gain. Cushing's syndrome is a condition in which the body's adrenal glands make too much of the hormone cortisol. Cushing's syndrome also can develop if a person takes high doses of certain medicines, such as prednisone, for long periods. People who have Cushing's syndrome gain weight, have upper-body obesity, a rounded face, fat around the neck, and thin arms and legs. PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition that affects about 5–10 percent of women of childbearing age. Women who have PCOS often are obese, have excess hair growth, and have reproductive problems and other health issues. These problems are caused by high levels of hormones called androgens.