The Philippines' Globe Telecom has arranged special dispensation from the authorities in Metro Manila to allow it to expedite the deployment of over 120 cell sites to improve coverage of the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila.
The operator has entered a groundbreaking agreement with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) that will allow it to install small cell antennas along the thoroughfares without needing to secure individual construction permits.
The regular approval process involves an average of 25 permits from local government units and takes around eight months to complete, according to Globe CEO Ernest Cu.
“Securing various permits for the construction of telco infrastructure such as cell sites has long been a major challenge of the industry,” he said.
“We want to thank MMDA for sharing our vision of a connected Philippines by allowing us to deploy sites faster, thus improving mobile experience at the heart of Metro Manila.”
As part of the agreement, Globe has also agreed to provide logistical support for the MMDA's critical traffic management operations. The operator deployed wireless infrastructure at the MMDA's flood control facilities in 2016, and that year also started providing free Wi-Fi service at MRT stations in the city.