Globe completes its pilot of new lens antenna technology in Southeast Asia

Globe has just revealed that it has successfully completed pilot deployments of the first multi-beam, multi-band lens antenna technology within Southeast Asia.

Its goal is to help provide improved 4G LTE and 5G capacity and reduce coverage dead spots. The lens antenna itself was invented by MatSing Ltd. (MatSing) and implemented by IBMS Technology Phils. Corp. (IBMS).

It’s also meant to easily meet the capacity demands of data-heavy smartphone apps which makes it ideal for outdoor use cases, rural areas, and densely populated areas.

The lens antenna also emits multiple beams clearly with minimal radio frequency interference to help minimize signal disruptions and improve customer experience.

The Globe team also conducted on-site tests with four antennas at two Globe cell sites in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, and one Cellsite On Wheels (COW) during the Head in the Clouds Music & Arts Festival in Manila.

Student Eugene Ebeleda Bacence from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro says connectivity has improved in his town because of the new technology. He now enjoys lag-free internet connection for online classes. (Image Credit: Globe)

The results demonstrated improved performance over the existing multibeam antennas in all categories such as higher mobile download and upload data speed. As well, it proved to have better indoor penetration and a wider reach that results in a more stable connection.

The lens antenna displayed improved performance metrics such as 8.36 times improved coverage, 7.92 times increased average LTE speed, and 2.67 times enhanced network quality and mobile data connections.

Myla Novino, a front office associate at a hotel in the same town, says Globe service has improved at the hotel where she works after previously having issues with mobile signal. (Image Credit: Globe)

Respondents from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro have also said that its connectivity in the town has improved overall with lag-free internet connection after having dealt with mobile signal issues.

Globe has already set plans to deploy the solution in key pilot sites and in areas hosting major events within the Visayas and Mindanao region.

This includes Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, Bohol, Capiz, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga del Norte, North Cotabato, and Zamboanga del Sur.