Telco-to-tech giant Globe Telecom Inc. plans to take the lead in the Philippines in advancing the next level of wireless technology called 6G, the successor of 5G.
At the GSMA’s Digital Nation Summit in Tokyo, Globe president and CEO Carl Raymond Cruz said the telco is preparing its infrastructure backbone ahead of 6G’s entry into play.
6G, expected to be launched in the early years of the next decade, is designed to provide connectivity speeds that are twice faster than its predecessor.
‘Connectivity today carries far more than data, (as) it carries trust, livelihoods and the ability of people to stay connected in moments that matter the most. As we look toward 6G, the priority is clear: We have to build networks that are resilient, secure and dependable in every life, especially when conditions are most challenging,’ Cruz said.
Globe wants to see how 6G could hold up in serving an archipelagic country like the Philippines. Cruz said although speed is important, it is also crucial to prioritize resilience.
Right now, Globe is deploying a hybrid strategy of putting up terrestrial assets and connecting to satellite constellations to beam internet to more than 7,000 islands.
‘Resilience is no longer optional. It is the standard people expect. A stable connection that holds under pressure is far more valuable than speed that cannot be sustained,’ Cruz said.
Cruz said Globe wants an early engagement with 6G to see how the technology would shake up the telco industry and its best uses in the country.
Apart from this, Cruz participated in a discussion on online security, reporting the wins made by Globe in taking down digital threats.
Last year the telco blocked over 967 million scam texts and at least 17,000 malicious domains linked to online scams.
However, Cruz said more work lies ahead for Philippine telcos.
Based on Globe’s monitor, local fraud rates have increased by 13 percent, more than double the global average of five percent.
Likewise, Cruz said 34 percent of Filipinos have suffered from online scams, contributing to the estimated $1 trillion in losses globally.
‘If people do not feel safe, they disengage, (and) that is why security, privacy and accountability must be built into the network from the start,’ Cruz said.