The Philippines' Globe Telecom has announced that it has upgraded its entire network to 3G, and plans to further upgrade the network to full HSPA+ coverage in under three months.
The operator has also revealed plans to spend up to $400 million to expand its LTE coverage.
Globe will complete its HSPA+ upgrade within 90 days from the beginning of July, the company said.
According to Globe CEO Ernest Cu, this upgrade forms part of the operator's transformation initiative, which has involved deploying new access, transport and core networks nationwide.
"With a 100% 3G network, we now have a robust capacity for high-speed mobile data access. Providing our network with full HSPA+ coverage in 90 days will provide an even faster mobile internet experience,” he said.
The initiative is also aimed at enhancing in-building coverage in major public buildings, such as malls, airports and hotels.
Globe is also building more cell sites, and expects to have 6,500 active across the Philippines by the end of the year.
The operator meanwhile plans to spend as much as $400 million over the next two years to expand its LTE coverage. Cu toldBusinessWorld Online that the company will focus its LTE rollout efforts on areas where “the LTE critical mass is happening,” including cities with a high population of mobile users with LTE-capable handsets.