Globe has teamed up with Nokia to introduce the Interleaved Passive Active Antenna (IPAA+) radio solution in South Cotabato. This groundbreaking collaboration marks the beginning of an ambitious plan to deploy at least fifty (50) of these innovative antennas throughout the year, underpinning Globe’s continuous network development and commitment to delivering superior services to its customers.
The IPAA+ antenna, designed and manufactured by Nokia, is a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and high-capacity 4G/5G solution created exclusively for Globe’s network expansion. With cutting-edge antenna interleaving technology, the IPAA+ stands out as a compact and space-saving option, reducing the tower height requirements by approximately 1.5 meters. Importantly, this ingenious design does not increase the wind load on the tower, streamlining the site acquisition process and expediting deployment. This innovation minimizes the impact on cell sites, avoiding the need for extensive tower reinforcement and construction work, thus reducing the environmental footprint during site modernization and 5G deployment.
“Through this innovation, Nokia will help us lessen our cost of energy and carbon emissions. Kudos to Nokia for collaborating with our Globe engineers to come up with this new solution. That’s the kind of partnership we can be proud of,” according to Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer, in remarks at the recent “Energize: The Globe Energy & Power Summit 2023,” where Nokia showcased the IPAA+.
The IPAA+ has already demonstrated its capabilities during world-first testing in Tantangan, South Cotabato, where it showed a 5% improvement in efficiency compared to legacy antennas. Its ability to provide broader coverage also makes it a superior choice for supporting a larger number of end-users.
Globe showcased the IPAA+ and other innovative products during the Energize 2023 summit, an event focused on fostering an energy-conscious mindset within the Globe workforce and its value chain.
“Nokia is proud to partner with Globe and support their efforts to deliver the most sustainability-driven network in the Philippines. Through this unique IPAA+ variant, we are supporting Globe’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint as well as accelerate its 4G/5G rollout across the country to improve the connectivity experience of its customers. We will continue to work closely with them throughout deployment at approximately 50 additional sites this year in the Visayas and Mindanao islands,” said Subho Mukherjee, VP of Sustainability at Nokia.
This deployment exemplifies Globe’s commitment to adopting environmentally friendly network solutions, aligning with its goal to reduce global carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. Currently, 25 of its high-energy facilities are powered by renewable energy sources. In 2021, Globe pledged to establish science-based targets through the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and submitted these targets for evaluation and validation in June 2023. The company has consistently maintained a ‘B’ rating with the CDP since 2021 and remains dedicated to supporting the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) to address climate-related risks effectively.
Globe received accolades in four categories at the recent Environmental Finance Sustainable Company Awards 2023. The company was recognized for its Energy Efficiency Initiative of the Year in APAC, Net Zero Progression of the Year in APAC, Sustainability Reporting of the Year in APAC, and Large Enterprise of the Year in APAC, further highlighting its strong commitment to sustainability and innovation in the telecommunications industry.