Globe Telecom is calling for quicker action from local government units on telecommunications permits, saying lingering delays remain a key barrier to expanding internet and mobile service—especially to far-flung and underserved communities. While recent reforms have yielded early results, bureaucratic inertia continues to slow down the rollout of critical infrastructure.
Citing data from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Globe reported that as of September 2026, some 12,241 permits and clearances for telco infrastructure have been approved across 707 cities and towns. These approvals come after the implementation of Executive Order No. 32 of 2023, which was meant to cut red tape, standardize requirements, and set clear timelines for LGU processing to prevent application backlogs.
Even with these changes, Globe Senior Vice President and Head of Network Planning and Engineering Joel Agustin emphasized that faster, more consistent permitting remains essential. “Faster permitting is important in bringing better connectivity to more Filipinos. We appreciate the efforts of LGUs to simplify these processes and help telecommunications providers move forward with their projects,” Agustin said. He added that sustained cooperation between government and industry is needed to reach communities still left behind.
Globe explained that how quickly permits get approved directly determines how fast network plans turn into actual cell sites and fiber connections. Lengthy waits mean construction starts later, leaving many areas with poor or no service even as the company pours resources into expansion.
In the first half of 2026 alone, Globe invested P26.3 billion in capital expenditures, 91 percent of which went to data-related projects. The company put up 878 new 5G sites and laid 80,052 fiber-to-the-home lines, pushing outdoor 5G coverage past 98 percent in Metro Manila and major cities across the Visayas and Mindanao. But Globe noted that without faster and more predictable permitting across all LGUs, even substantial investments will take longer to reach remote and underserved areas. The company said it will keep working with both national agencies and local governments to keep pushing for smoother, speedler permitting nationwide.
