EXPEDITED ISSUANCE of permits by local government units (LGUs) will help telecommunications companies accelerate their network expansions and improve internet connectivity, according to Globe Telecom, Inc.
Globe was responding to government reports that more than 12,000 approvals were issued for telecommunications infrastructure projects.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government said 12,241 permits and clearances were approved across 707 cities and municipalities as of September, benefiting from efforts to streamline local permit processes.
Globe said the reduction of administrative delays will allow telecommunications providers to start building cell site sooner, particularly in underserved and remote communities.
“Faster permitting is important in bringing better connectivity to more Filipinos,” Joel R. Agustin, Globe senior vice-president and head of network planning and engineering, said.
The company recorded P26.3 billion in capital expenditures in the first half of 2026, with 91% allocated to data-related initiatives. During the period, it deployed 878 new 5G sites and 80,052 fiber-to-the-home lines.
Coverage for 5G technology reached 98% of the population in Metro Manila and key cities in the Visayas and Mindanao, it said.
“Sustained network investment, supported by faster and more predictable permitting, can help move infrastructure from planning to deployment sooner,” Globe said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera