en.Wedoany.com Reported - Philippine telecommunications operator Globe Telecom announced its 5G network construction progress for the first quarter of 2026, adding 408 new 5G sites in key areas during the period. This has raised outdoor 5G population coverage in Metro Manila, as well as major cities in the Visayas and Mindanao, to over 98%. The expansion simultaneously extended 5G services to an additional 21 towns, with 172 non-core cities and towns now achieving at least 80% population coverage. The focus of network expansion is shifting from the capital region and major cities to regional centers and small-to-medium towns.
The 408 new sites do not all represent newly constructed communication towers. Mobile network expansion typically involves multiple tasks, including new site construction, adding 5G radio equipment to existing base stations, upgrading antennas and radio frequency systems, expanding transmission links, and configuring the core network and network management systems. Globe did not disclose the specific breakdown between new tower sites and upgrades to existing stations, nor did it reveal the distribution of sites across regions or frequency band configurations. However, based on changes in coverage scope, the project includes both capacity additions in high-traffic urban areas and network activation in towns where 5G coverage was previously weak.
In densely populated areas like Manila, the primary task of 5G infrastructure construction is no longer just expanding map coverage, but also increasing site capacity to alleviate traffic pressure from services such as video, social media, online gaming, and mobile payments. Globe reported that mobile data traffic in the first quarter grew 18% year-on-year, with average monthly data usage per user at approximately 16GB and active mobile data users exceeding 39 million. As both user numbers and per-user traffic increase, relying solely on a few macro base stations for coverage expansion can lead to capacity shortages during peak hours. Therefore, operators need to increase site density, adjust antenna parameters, and expand fiber optic or microwave backhaul capacity between base stations and the core network.
Extending 5G to 21 new towns imposes different requirements on site selection and transmission conditions. In some small-to-medium towns, the population is relatively dispersed, and existing communication towers may lack the necessary power, equipment room space, or high-speed backhaul lines required for 5G equipment operation. Operators must decide whether to build new base stations, share tower sites, or upgrade existing 4G sites based on local network infrastructure. Even if base station radio equipment is installed, insufficient backhaul network capacity can still limit the actual speeds users experience. Therefore, regional 5G construction must proceed in tandem with the fiber optic backbone network, metropolitan transmission nodes, and power supply systems.
Globe uses outdoor population coverage as the primary indicator for this round of construction. This means users are within 5G signal range on roads, in public spaces, and in general outdoor environments, but it does not guarantee stable access inside all buildings. Within urban high-rise buildings, commercial complexes, and residential interiors, signal may still be affected by wall obstructions, site distance, and frequency band propagation characteristics. Subsequent network optimization will need to incorporate indoor distribution systems, small cells, and additional site placements to supplement coverage. For areas that have already achieved high population coverage, the operator's next phase of work will shift more towards indoor coverage, network capacity, and continuity in edge areas, rather than simply pursuing higher coverage percentages.
From the perspective of the Philippines' national network structure, this round of new sites forms a continuous construction path of "urban capacity expansion—regional town coverage—transmission network expansion." Metro Manila and major cities handle high-density mobile data traffic, regional nodes in the Visayas and Mindanao connect more local markets, and new town sites further extend 5G services downward. With 172 non-core cities and towns now achieving at least 80% population coverage, noteworthy milestones ahead include the activation of 5G in more rural and island areas, the connection of new sites to fiber optic backhaul networks, and whether base station density will continue to increase in high-traffic urban areas.
