Fiber 101: Why it’s the reliable and practical way to have good internet connection in urban areas

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One of the many challenges facing property owners, customers, and most families is how they can have better internet connectivity in their offices or homes. What is more perplexing is how to do this right in the middle of an urban area where installing a cell tower can be a major challenge.

Globe has the best solution for this concern: fiber connection inside the home.

Fiber is a technology that offers high-speed connection, with speeds that reach up to 940 Megabits per second (Mbps) with low latency or lag time. It uses light to transmit and receive data signals as against the electrical signal that digital subscriber line (DSL) technology uses.

Globe’s fiber technology is the best alternative to places wherein there are no available space or property to install a new cell tower or a cell site. Fiber is also the most practical solution to improve internet connectivity without literally disturbing the peace and order in a community or even the house and building itself.

Fiber also solves the concern where the cell tower signal is blocked by thick walls, confined places and other factors that impede the penetration of signals in one’s residence or place of work. More importantly, bringing fiber to the home (FTTH) doesn’t require that much time and energy to do so.

“Technology is always evolving and that's why Globe continuously invests in its network to bring the latest technology in the world available to customers. Fiber is the best alternative in urban areas where building a new cell site is a challenge. If we are talking about the need to connect with wider capacity but with less concerns in a short time, then fiber is the best way to do so,” said Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Program Delivery, Network Technical Group.

Fiber is fast. It can send data as fast as 70% of the speed of light. Since light travels very fast on fiber optic cables, fiber connection can generate speeds up to 100x faster than DSL. Simply put, with fiber technology the whole household can enjoy watching their favorite TV series, movies, concerts or bond together by playing online games without worrying about buffering or lags.

Its material is made of glass as compared to copper with DSL. Because it is made of glass, it weighs lighter and is more compact. These are reasons why fiber is more practical and more viable in the long run. It will never rust and it is not much of a burden, literally, on poles.

“Contrary to popular belief, installing fiber in your homes is not as invasive as you think. Globe technical teams will first determine the best way to bring fiber cables to your homes before actually installing them. Instead of using a traditional modem, a small Optical Network Terminal (ONT) box will be placed in the customer’s home to convert the light signals into digital data,” added Agustin.

Agustin also explained that it is better and always more practical and convenient for property owners, developers, and contractors to build their fiber network simultaneously with the building or construction of their property. Not only will it save so much money and effort in the long run, but it will also serve as a prime attraction for prospective customers or investors.

Globe is eyeing to bring fiber to at least 1 million Filipino homes this year.

To know more about Globe at Home’s better technology and how to get a free fiber upgrade, please visit: https://www.globe.com.ph/broadband/free-fiber-upgrade.html

Globe supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG), specifically UN SDG No. 9 which emphasizes the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. Globe is committed to upholding the 10 United Nations Global Compact principles and 10 UN SDGs.

For more information visit www.globe.com.ph

realme 7 retail price slashed, now at Php 11,990

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Coming at the heels of the well-received launch of digital lifestyle experience realme TechLife and the recent cutback on the realme 7 Pro selling price, the leading smart technology company reinforces its aim of making interconnectivity attainable for every Filipino with another price drop, this time on the realme 7. 

The midrange model is available for only P11,990 beginning March 5 via Lazada, Shopee, and official realme dealers and stores across the country.

realme follows TechLife launch with a Php3,000 price drop on one of its most powerful smartphones starting March 5

The realme 7 is the first smartphone in the world to be powered by the MediaTek Helio G95 Gaming Processor. Boasting industry-leading features and cutting-edge capabilities, the realme 7 is also the first to receive the TÜV Rheinland Smartphone Reliability Verification. This certification, which includes 22 major and 38 minor tests, vouches for the product’s durability and reliability for various daily-use scenarios. Introducing the model’s new cut-rate price tag is among realme’s steps to make Smart Living more accessible to all.

“With digital increasingly becoming the primary platform and norm for our modern communities, realme is working to make sure that a highly efficient and enjoyable Smart Living ecosystem is available in the market at a competitive rate,” Austine Huang, realme Philippines’ VP for Marketing said. “We want to bring the wonders of tech to the Filipinos’ fingertips. And that, of course, begins with the most-used device: the smartphone.”

Premium Specs for Premium Experience on a budget

The realme 7 packs value for money with its Octa-core CPU paired with a super Carbon Fiber Cooling System. This combo makes for a device with the power to host large apps and massive games, with zero lag. Users can finally say goodbye to AFKs and an overheating unit!

Capture a sharper and smoother reality

Users are also enabled to snap a carbon copy of reality with the help of realme 7’s Sony 64MP Quad Cam. This produces ultra-high resolution pictures with unparalleled clarity. The smartphone’s seamless 6.5” mirror-designed screen also lets you enjoy your photos, watch your favorite films, join video conferences, and view other displays in incredible detail.

Your favorite digital activity, for hours on end

realme 7’s massive 5,000mAh battery can support extended hours, giving users time to immerse in and maximize the phone’s capabilities, with a low turnover time for charging. On a single full-charge, digital natives can game for 9 hours, binge movies for 15 hours, or listen to their favorite music for 81 hours -- all uninterrupted.

The realme 7 series is fully integrated into the realme Smart Living ecosystem, with capabilities and applications that work with and complement both the recently launched realme Smart TV and the realme Watch S Pro.

To stay updated and know more about the realme events and promos, you may visit and follow realme’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.

 

Most affordable Air Fryer from XTREME is now available!

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The long wait is finally over! XTREME Appliances has launched their brand new kitchen appliance, the 3.5L XTREME Home Air Fryer. Using this appliance, Filipino consumers can now enjoy a healthier way of cooking their frozen and fresh food.

“We saw the demand for air fryers. We checked what specific features/settings buyers are looking for. From there, we decided to bring the air fryer to the Philippine market and sell it at a fair price”, shares VP for Marketing Mr. Stephen Cheng.

The main spotlight of this cooking appliance is its features: air-fry, roast, bake, broil, and de-hydrate. It carries a digital touchscreen display, a functional timer that lasts up to 1hr and 30 minutes with an automatic shut-off and temperature up to 200 Degrees Celsius. It also has a large capacity of 3.5L barrel that can provide enough food for the entire family and friends; you can even roast a whole chicken in it! Cleaning will never be a problem, you can skip worrying about the hard-to-remove burned food thanks to its non-stick coating barrel. This device promises to cook food faster, therefore, saving more energy and time; as well as space because of its compact design- compared to a regular deep frying machine or convection ovens. 

The 3.5L XTREME Home Air Fryer works by distributing a rapid air heat system around the food, making it cook evenly and creates better crispiness and flavor unlike the traditional way of cooking.

Is the XTREME Home Air Fryer worth it? With the price of ₱2,995, you can achieve your ideal level of crispness and flavorful dishes in just one device without getting into a mess. Bring out that cooking perfection now at a very budget-friendly price!

Keep updated on the latest news and happenings of XTREME Appliances: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. For the full list of products and exclusive discounts, please visit XTREME on Website, Lazada, and Shopee e-commerce.

 

COVID-19: Schools for more than 168 million children globally have been completely closed for almost a full year, says UNICEF

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UNICEF unveils ‘Pandemic Classroom’ at United Nations Headquarters in New York to call attention to the need for governments to prioritize the reopening of schools

NEW YORK, 3 March 2021 – Schools for more than 168 million children globally have been completely closed for almost an entire year due to COVID-19 lockdowns, according to new data released today by UNICEF. Furthermore, around 214 million children globally – or 1 in 7 – have missed more than three-quarters of their in-person learning.

The analysis of the school closure report notes that 14 countries worldwide have remained largely closed from March 2020 to February 2021. Two-thirds of those countries are in Latin America and the Caribbean, affecting nearly 98 million schoolchildren. Of the 14 countries, Panama has kept schools closed for the most days, followed by El Salvador, Bangladesh, and Bolivia.

“As we approach the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are again reminded of the catastrophic education emergency worldwide lockdowns have created. With every day that goes by, children unable to access in-person schooling fall further and further behind, with the most marginalized paying the heaviest price,” said Henrietta Fore UNICEF Executive Director. “We cannot afford to move into year two of limited or even no in-school learning for these children. No effort should be spared to keep schools open, or prioritize them in reopening plans.”

School closures have devastating consequences for children’s learning and wellbeing. The most vulnerable children and those unable to access remote learning are at an increased risk of never returning to the classroom, and even being forced into child marriage or child labor. According to latest data by UNESCO, more than 888 million children worldwide continue to face disruptions to their education due to full and partial school closures.

The majority of schoolchildren worldwide rely on their schools as a place where they can interact with their peers, seek support, access health and immunization services and a nutritious meal. The longer schools remain closed, the longer children are cut off from these critical elements of childhood.

To call attention to the education emergency and raise awareness about the need for governments to keep schools open, or prioritize them in reopening plans, UNICEF today unveiled ‘Pandemic Classroom,’ a model classroom made up of 168 empty desks, each desk representing the million children living in countries where schools have been almost entirely closed – a solemn reminder of the classrooms in every corner of the world that remain empty.

“This classroom represents the millions of centers of learning that have sat empty—many for almost the entire year. Behind each empty chair hangs an empty backpack—a placeholder for a child’s deferred potential,” said Fore. “We do not want shuttered doors and closed buildings to obscure the fact that our children’s futures are being put on indefinite pause. This installation is a message to governments: we must prioritize reopening schools, and we must prioritize reopening them better than they were before.”

As students return to their classrooms, they will need support to readjust and catch up on their learning. School reopening plans must incorporate efforts to recover children’s lost education. UNICEF urges governments to prioritize the unique needs of every student, with comprehensive services covering remedial learning, health and nutrition, and mental health and protection measures in schools to nurture children and adolescents’ development and wellbeing. UNICEF’s Framework for Reopening Schools, issued jointly with UNESCO, UNHCR, WFP, and the World Bank, offers practical advice for national and local authorities.

UnionBank’s Solid 2020 Results Highlight Robust Customer Acquisition together with Strong Cost Control

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Despite the global effects of COVID-19, particularly in the banking industry, UnionBank’s recently-disclosed 2020 Financial Results underscore the strategic importance of its digital transformation almost five years ago; as it is now harvesting its strategic rewards.

The Bank was able to achieve a net income of Php11.6 billion, despite credit reserves growing by nearly five-fold year-on-year or close to Php7.0 billion more than 2019. Earnings performance translated to a return on equity of 11.9%, way above the industry average of 6.6% in 2020.

The Bank recorded the highest growth rate in its CASA deposits of 24%, in the last twenty years. This was brought about by retail customers trusting the availability and security of the Bank’s digital channels, together with corporate accounts moving collections to the Bank, because of visibility over transactions and best-in-class, self-service cash management implementation.

From the original target of attracting a million new customers, UnionBank was able to attract twenty-four million new accounts in 2020 with a large portion coming from digital account opening. It is the only Top-10 universal bank in the country that was able to introduce, during the crisis period, an account that can be fully-opened, without going to any “physical branch, which resulted in large customer adoption.

The growth in customers and digital transactions resulted in strong operating income for the year. Revenues were at an all-time high of Php42.1 billion driven by the expansion of net interest income by 29% to Php28.7 billion.

Growth in operating expenses was kept at low single-digits despite robust business growth due to sustained efficiencies from digitization. Due to these efficiencies, 2020 OpEx grew by 4% despite the effects of the pandemic.

The Bank’s transformation to become “Digital to the Core” has indeed opened the proverbial “jaws-of-the-tiger”, where the upper-jaw representing revenue-and-new-customers growth dramatically “opened-up wide”, while the lower-jaw representing costs – particularly costs-per-transaction – correspondingly went significantly lower. This dual-impact from the “jaws-of-the-tiger” was clearly reflected in the Bank’s solid 2020 results.

UBX, the Bank’s technology and innovation firm, signed up more than 140,000 MSMEs across its platforms namely i2i, BUX, Sentro, and SeekCap.

CitySavings Bank also continued to deliver efficient services to teachers and motorcycle loan borrowers with the help of its mobile sales app. As of December 2020, CitySavings has an outstanding portfolio of P46.5 billion in teachers' loans, P4.3 billion in motorcycle loans, and P2.3 billion in MSME loans.

“I am pleased with the Bank’s 2020 performance despite a challenging year. This was a product of all UnionBankers who continued to push boundaries and whose heroic efforts during this crisis has propelled us to greater heights. As we line up new features in our digital channels and Tech Up especially more of our underbanked and unbanked countrymen, we aim to move full throttle in 2021 with the end in view of achieving a bank of enduring greatness,” said Edwin R. Bautista, President, and CEO.