Globe says faster LGU permits can speed telecom network expansion in the Philippines

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Globe: faster LGU permits boost telecom

Highlights

12,241 telecom infrastructure permits were approved across 707 Philippine cities and municipalities as of September, reflecting local permit process streamlining.
Globe invested P26.3 billion in capital expenditures in H1 2026, with 91% targeting data-related initiatives including 878 new 5G sites and 80,052 fiber lines.
Globe reported 5G coverage now reaches 98% of the population in Metro Manila and key cities in Visayas and Mindanao, driven by faster permitting and network investments.

Permit streamlining supports rollout plans

As reported by BusinessWorld Online, Globe made the case for faster local approvals after government data showed more than 12,000 permits and clearances had been 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, reflecting efforts to streamline local permit processes.

Globe said reducing administrative delays allows telecommunications providers to begin building cell sites sooner. Joel R. Agustin, senior vice-president and head of network planning and engineering at Globe, said faster permitting is important in bringing better connectivity to more Filipinos.

Network spending and coverage gains

Globe recorded P26.3 billion in capital expenditures in the first half of 2026, with 91% allocated to data-related initiatives. During the period, the company deployed 878 new 5G sites and 80,052 fiber-to-the-home lines.

The company said 5G coverage reached 98% of the population in Metro Manila and key cities in the Visayas and Mindanao. Globe added that sustained network investment, backed by faster and more predictable permitting, can help move infrastructure from planning to deployment sooner.

In our earlier coverage of the Philippines’ planned sovereign bond pricing reforms and potential inclusion in J.P. Morgan’s Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets, we explained how these steps could broaden the investor base and improve liquidity, but would not automatically translate into stronger real-economy investment. The piece emphasized that outcomes still depend on fiscal credibility and, crucially, on whether reforms are matched by effective project execution and a more predictable operating environment—such as reliable infrastructure delivery and smoother procedures that reduce delays and costs for businesses.

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