Globe Accelerates Philippines' Digital Future with Nationwide Wireless Laser Deployment
Globe is propelling the Philippines into a new era of digital connectivity by scaling its partnership with Transcelestial, committing to a nationwide rollout of over 400 wireless laser links over the next three years. This ambitious initiative positions Globe as a global pioneer in deploying wireless optical infrastructure on a national scale, leveraging laser technology to overcome traditional bottlenecks and deliver faster, more resilient 5G services to Filipinos.
Overcoming Terrain Challenges with Innovative Technology
Transcelestial's technology directly addresses the unique geographical challenges of the Philippine archipelago, where laying physical fiber-optic cables across coastlines, mountains, and disaster-prone areas is often slow and prohibitively expensive. By utilizing wireless laser links, Globe can now provide fiber-class capacity for 5G and small cells through a rapid deployment model that bypasses traditional construction delays. This innovation offers a secure, interference-free connection that remains highly flexible for diverse applications, ranging from large-scale events and emergency response to permanent connectivity for temporary or remote sites.
Building a Flexible, Future-Ready Network
Globe's strategy recognizes that no single technology will define the future of national networks. The deployment of Transcelestial lasers accelerates the company's commitment to bringing better access to more Filipinos at speed. "We are creating a flexible, future-ready network that adapts to rising capacity needs and environmental constraints," said Joel Agustin, Senior Vice President for Engineering and Network Planning at Globe. Rohit Jha, CEO and Co-Founder of Transcelestial, added, "Our 400-link rollout with Globe signals that the country is embracing new infrastructure models to overcome old constraints. We are proud to work with a forward-thinking partner to accelerate the digital economy for all Filipinos."
Strengthening Digital Backbone Through Strategic Investments
The partnership is deepened by Transcelestial being a portfolio company of Kickstart Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Globe. This investment underscores Globe's commitment to scouting and scaling transformative technologies that solve local connectivity challenges. "Kickstart's investment in Transcelestial reflects Globe's broader commitment to strengthening the country's digital backbone. By supporting scalable, resilient connectivity solutions, we're enabling more inclusive economic participation across regions, which is fundamental to building a future-ready Philippines," said Joan Yao, General Partner at Kickstart Ventures.
Proven Success and Seamless Integration
The nationwide rollout follows successful deployments in Visayas and Mindanao, as well as high-demand trials at the Philippine Arena during large-scale events in 2024-2025. These early deployments provided Globe with the operational confidence to scale the technology across the country. To ensure seamless integration, Asticom, a Globe-owned shared services company, serves as the local engineering partner. Since 2023, Asticom has provided critical on-the-ground technical and engineering expertise to deploy and maintain these laser links. "We are proud to enable Globe's high-tech rollout by bridging the gap between cutting-edge innovation and local infrastructure. Our goal is to build meaningful connections that improve Filipino lives through reliable, future-ready connectivity," said Mharicar Castillo-Reyes, President and CEO of Asticom.
