Globe Telecom has partnered with Singapore-based Transcelestial to deploy more than 400 wireless laser links across the Philippines over the next three years, aiming to speed up the rollout of 5G and strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure.
The project uses laser-based wireless technology to transmit data between network sites, providing fiber-like speeds without the need to lay physical fiber cables. This approach allows Globe to expand connectivity faster, especially in areas where building traditional infrastructure is difficult or costly.
The technology is designed to address geographic challenges in the archipelago, such as mountains, coastlines, and disaster-prone areas. By using wireless laser links for last-mile and backhaul connections, Globe can deliver high-capacity network links more quickly while avoiding construction delays.
Company officials said the move reflects Globe’s strategy to use multiple technologies to build a flexible and resilient national network capable of supporting rising demand for mobile data and 5G services.
The partnership is also supported by Kickstart Ventures, Globe’s venture capital arm, which has invested in Transcelestial as part of efforts to back technologies that address connectivity challenges in the Philippines.
Early deployments in the Visayas and Mindanao, along with trials during large events at the Philippine Arena in 2024 and 2025, helped validate the technology before the nationwide rollout.
Implementation support will come from Asticom, a Globe-owned shared services firm that provides engineering and technical expertise for deploying and maintaining the laser links across the country.
Globe said the initiative is expected to improve network capacity, speed up infrastructure deployment, and expand reliable internet access as demand for digital services continues to grow.
