Globe, Curvalux wins WBA award for bridging the connectivity gap in hard-to-reach areas

Globe and Curvalux won the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) Best Wi-Fi for Social Impact award for helping bring high-speed internet connectivity to hard-to-reach areas, especially in communities where l electricity is unreliable or non-existent.

The award recognizes and celebrates innovative Wi-Fi network-based services that have been deployed on a trial or commercial basis in at least one country or market. Globe’s victory was based on its scores in technical and business innovations, improved user experience, and scale of impact in the market. According to the World Bank’s Philippine Digital Economy Report 2020, about 57% of the country’s households do not have access to the internet. In the report, he mentioned that the digital divide is due to the limited infrastructure and geographic challenges of an archipelago. So Globe turned to Curvalux to test disruptive fixed wireless broadband technology two years ago. The goal is to provide more capacity, enable higher data rates over a longer range, reduce power consumption, and ensure Customer On-Site Equipment (CPE) is more affordable and easier. to install. “The Internet has become a lifeline for many Filipinos. This is why Globe continues to enrich its portfolio of internet solutions to cover as many households as possible. Our partnership with Curvalux will enable faster deployment of broadband to meet the ever-increasing demand for connectivity, especially in hard-to-reach communities, ”said Gerard Ortines, Global Head of Network Solutions and CAPEX Management. Curvalux uses an innovative “phased array multibeam broadband system” that requires 10 times less power than traditional telecommunications infrastructure and can run solely on solar power and batteries. It is more practical than energy-hungry terrestrial antennas, which are difficult to deploy in rural areas, especially where power is limited or non-existent. “We are privileged to work with Globe to help make a meaningful impact on the lives of millions of people in the Philippines who do not have access to affordable high speed internet access. This is only the first step in fulfilling our mission to bring connectivity to billions of people around the world using our next generation fixed wireless access technologies, ”said Richard Pak, CEO of Curvalux. The product uses a standard Wi-Fi cpe. The Curvalux system provided speeds of up to 150 Mbps for download and line-of-sight upload speed at a distance of 2 km from the site.

The deployment of the Curvalux solution is also part of Globe’s sustainable development initiatives. Globe is committed to upgrading and modernizing its infrastructure to make it sustainable. “The competition in this category has been tough, so congratulations are well deserved. The $ 40 CPE was the most impressive, demonstrating that durable fixed wireless access is possible and practical for hard-to-connect areas such as small islands and rural areas, ”said Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of WBA. The company is ensuring more efficient use of resources and greater adoption of clean and environmentally friendly technologies as part of its commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s global Race To Zero campaign ( UNFCCC). The initiative rallies global players to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest. With the successful trial, Globe plans to expand connectivity to thousands of low-income families across the Philippines. The company plans to offer fiber-like speed plans with capped or unlimited volume to customers as it moves into the commercial phase. Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular United Nations SDG 9, which emphasizes the role of infrastructure and innovation as essential engines of economic growth and development. Globe is committed to respecting the 10 principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the 10 United Nations SDGs. To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.