Burn Soriano Targets Another Big Win in Upcoming Bout

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After scoring a highlight-reel finish in his last bout, Filipino homegrown talent Burn “The Hitman” Soriano looks for another scintillating performance as he is set to have his first scheduled match under the ONE Championship banner in 2017.

Soriano will be squaring off with Malaysian standout Saiful “The Vampire” Merican on the undercard of ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS, which takes place at the 12,000-seater Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 10 February.

The 30-year-old native of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur eyes a follow-up to his 15-second knockout win over Mario Satya Wirawan last August.

Soriano delivered a well-executed spinning backfist that instantly turned the lights out on Wirawan. His knockout victory was ranked as one of the jaw-dropping wins in 2016 by ONE Championship.

“I am a fighter who always looks for the finish. As much as possible, I want to give the fans what they want to see. They didn’t buy a ticket to see a boring fight. They came for an action-packed fight with an amazing conclusion,” Soriano said.

“In my upcoming fight, my fans should expect that I will have the same mentality. I will look for that finish,” he added.

League of Vice Governors Team Up with Globe Telecom to Develop Telco Infra

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Globe Telecom signed a ground-breaking agreement with the League of Vice-Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) to collaborate in facilitating the deployment of vital ICT infrastructure, particularly in unserved and underserved communities in the country.

“ICT is rapidly changing the way that companies conduct business and the government delivers services. This agreement shows that we are one with League of Vice Governors in our desire to develop the ICT capacities of communities and businesses. We are confident this initiative would unlock more economic opportunities in the countryside and provide vital services to more Filipinos, benefitting the country as a whole,” Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu said.

Under the memorandum of agreement, which was signed by Globe Senior Vice President for Broadband Business Martha Sazon and LVGP National President Antonio Albano, vice-governors committed to provide support in relation to the deployment of telecommunication facilities in their capacity as presiding officers of Sangguniang Panlalawigan in their respective provinces.

The agreement follows repeated calls by Globe for a rationalization of permitting process for cell sites and other telecommunication infrastructure, pointing out it takes at least 8 months, involving 25 permits, to put up one cell site. This has led to considerable delay in the deployment of telecommunication facilities. In the case of Globe, the telecommunications provider has a backlog of around 3000 sites amid difficulties in securing permits from various local government units, homeowners’ associations and other government agencies.

Specifically, members of LVGP committed to ensure that only reasonable fees equivalent to the cost of regulation of ICT infrastructure in relation to the process of reviewing ordinances passed by municipalities and cities in their respective provinces. The LVP also committed to advise and encourage cities and municipalities to have a turn-around time for the issuance of permits and licenses of not more than 10 days from the submission of all requirements; exempt ICT infrastructure installed in agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial areas from zoning clearances; and to enact a uniform ordinance prescribing the barest minimum documentary requirements and that no more than 3 signatures shall be required for such permits.

The LGVP also committed to identify areas owned and controlled by the government as possible sites where ICT infrastructure may be installed, co-located or leased by Globe and to encourage cities and municipalities to do likewise. In addition, the group committed to encourage cities and municipalities to deploy at their cost and expense their respective ICT infrastructure such as fiber optic networks and communication towers to be leased by Globe and to provide the necessary assistance to facilitate acquisition of permits and licenses from cities and municipalities under the LVGP’s jurisdiction which are identified by Globe as priority areas for ICT infrastructure deployment.

Globe, on the other hand, committed to provide free Wi-Fi service in cities and municipalities compliant with the provisions of the agreement as well CCTV cameras or computer software or hardware and free internet service in select schools and public institutions or other high traffic areas such as city halls, terminals and other LGU-owned areas where there will be potentially have high Wi-Fi usage.

Under the agreement, Globe will be in charge in identifying priority areas for deployment of ICT infrastructure and to provide technical assistance to provinces, cities and municipalities in the deployment of their respective ICT infrastructure to be leased by Globe.


PHOTO CAPTION: Globe Senior Vice President for Broadband Business Martha Sazon (4th from right) shakes hands with Isabela Vice Governor Antonio Albano, LGVP National President (4th from left) following the signing of a MOA to facilitate deployment of ICT infrastructure in the country. Witnessing the signing are from left Globe Director for Sector Relations Robert Aquino; Masbate Vice Governor Jo Kristine Revil, LGVP PRO; Leyte Vice-Governor Carlo Loreto, LGVP Secretary General; Oriental Mindoro Vice-Governor Humerlito Dolor, LGVP Chair; Globe Director for Business Development Michelle Ora; and Laguna Vice-Governor Karen Agapay, LGVP Treasurer.

Amid Steady Uptake of Customers Globe Broadband Sees 88% Price Reduction Within 4 Years

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Globe broadband prices have declined substantially over the last four years, with price reduction ranging between 68%-88%, amid steady uptake of the telecommunication operator’s wired broadband services.

Currently, a broadband connection with a speed of 10 Mbps is offered at P1,299 per month, the plan comes with a data allocation of 100GB with six-month free subscription to NBA League Pass, Netflix and Hooq. This represents a 68% decline from a price offer of P3999/month for the package in 2013. Also, a broadband service with speed of 50 Mbps is currently offered at P1899 /month, a price reduction of 78% from P8499/month in 2013 while a broadband connection with speed of 100 Mbps is currently offered at P2,499/month, representing an 88% price dip from P19,999/month offered for the same package in 2013.

Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu said the company is now putting more emphasis on its home broadband and fixed internet operations as years of focus on its mobile services has successfully propelled the company to become the country’s leading mobile brand. This is alongside the company’s thrust to provide first world internet to more Filipino families, by allowing them access to high speed internet plans.

“As more customers are getting into home entertainment and video streaming services, it has become more imperative for us to expand the reach of our broadband network to provide our customers with a more reliable and robust high-speed internet connection,” said Cu.

In line with its strategy of bringing focus on its broadband services, Globe plans to roll out 400,000 ultra-fast broadband lines within the year, to bring a minimum internet speed of at least 10 Mbps, said Cu. Such plan supports the company’s initiative of improving fixed internet in the country and redefining the home broadband experience of Filipinos. With the target deployment of 400,000 lines by the end of 2017, the company plans progressive deployment within the next three years until 2020 to serve at least 2 million homes.

Globe Telecom’s focus on its broadband operations has started to bear fruit, as the company’s broadband revenues at the end of third quarter last year reached P10.7 billion, a 38% rise from a year earlier revenue of P7.8 billion, attributed mainly to continued customer base expansion. At the end of September last year, the company had total broadband subscribers of 1.15 million, a 12% increase from 1.03 million a year earlier.