Globe is leading the call for property developers to treat connectivity services on equal footing with other utilities as electricity and water, and remove lease fees for in-building telecommunications facilities that are now essential in working, learning and leisure as highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ernest Cu, Globe president and chief executive officer, said the unregulated installation costs in buildings and establishments have become burdensome for service providers, with one developer even demanding a 300 percent increase in lease rates for telcos, apparently to cut losses.
“When a developer starts building, they practically beg for power and water. Meanwhile, for us, we want to connect them but they say ‘pay first.’ They actually put all the power facilities in the building to allow their tenants to connect. They don’t charge the water company for every faucet. Yet they want to charge us for every antenna we need to install,” said Cu at Globe’s R.I.S.E. 3.0 event, which gathered government partners and stakeholders for a united push for digital inclusion.
Even as Globe scored a win with the top hotel in Pasay City with the removal of charges for in-building solutions, Globe continues to negotiate with other building owners and developers for the remove of the lease fees.
Operating expenses are eventually are shouldered by customers in the form higher cost services.
Cu said property developers should start carrying their weight in providing Filipinos with inclusive connectivity.
“The telcos cannot do it alone. We are very large facilities but we have over a hundred million people to connect. The government is doing its share, alleviating requirements and permits and giving incentives. We need members of the private sector who are very much interested in furthering the connectivity agenda. It’s only by working together that we can come up to speed with other countries out there that are truly digital,” Cu said.
