Enterprise

Globe launches Southeast Asia’s first 5G service backed by Huawei

Ultra-fast internet coming to homes first

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Image credit: Globe

Local telcos have been telling Filipinos that the Philippines will not be left behind in the 5G race. True to their promise, Globe Telecom launched its 5G broadband service. The word 5G might be new to some because it’s just making its way to select countries. The Philippines is now the first one to have commercial 5G service in Southeast Asia.

Before we get too excited, it’s worth noting that Globe’s initial 5G service is limited for homes, and it’s not yet for mobile devices. Globe will soon offer fixed wireless broadband using 5G technology to deliver fiber-like speeds. Basically, Globe is keen to deliver high-speed internet to Filipino homes wirelessly rather than rolling out fiber optics cables. Truth be told, the process of laying out fiber optics are always met with drastic delays due to bureaucracy.

With Globe At Home Air Fiber 5G, the telco will offer postpaid plans starting July 2019 with promised speeds of up to 100Mbps and up to 2 terabytes of monthly data allowance. It’s not unlimited, but you practically have more than 60GB of data to play with every single day.

The plans start at PhP 1,899, which is at par with Globe’s current wired broadband services:

  • Plan 1899 — up to 20Mbps
  • Plan 2499 — up to 50Mbps
  • Plan 2899 — up to 100Mbps

Initially, the service will be available in select areas of Pasig City in Metro Manila, and in the province of Cavite and Bulacan.

Despite the privacy issues and sanctions thrown by the US, Globe has pushed through their plan to use Huawei equipment, including radios and modems, to deliver 5G broadband internet. Even before, Globe is in partnership with Huawei for its 4G service alongside with Nokia.

Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu disclosed that the company has been spending over 21 percent of its annual revenue to upgrade and expand. In 2018, the company spent PhP 43.3 billion for its broadband services. Hopefully, the use of 5G will enable more homes with a faster and more reliable internet connection.

SEE ALSO: Globe, Smart downplay Huawei ban imposed by US government

Enterprise

Nintendo sues the United States

The Japanese company wants a refund for illegal tariffs.

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What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? After a year of wrestling through tariffs from the current American administration, Nintendo has decided to sue the United States.

Last year, the Trump administration was trigger-happy with implement tariffs on countries everywhere. Though the controversy mostly circulated around geopolitics, major corporations also found themselves on the receiving end of Trump’s ire. All over the world, the tariffs sparked product delays and price hikes.

Nintendo is no exception. As a result of the fiasco, the company had to delay the launch of the Switch 2, in anticipation of disruptions caused by the tariffs. First reported by Aftermath, the Japanese gaming giant is now going after the American government over refunds associated with the tariffs.

Now, the tariffs aren’t a big issue anymore. Notably, the Supreme Court scratched off the White House’s implementations that the former found illegal. While a big sigh of relief for future business, corporations like Nintendo have already paid duties and deposits in the past. As a result, Nintendo is now looking for recompense for what they paid before.

Nintendo isn’t the first company to seek restitution over the illegal tariffs. Others, including FedEx and Revlon, are also asking for refunds. However, the Japanese giant is certainly one of the biggest names to cross the government’s path. After all, the company is notoriously litigious over anything it considers as an affront to its business, including small streamers using Pokémon on their broadcasts.

With all its global resources, Nintendo likely won’t just give up without a fight.

SEE ALSO: The Nintendo Switch is now Nintendo’s best-selling console ever

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Enterprise

Paramount wins bid for HBO Max, plans to merge streaming apps

It’s all part of the deal to acquire the Warner Bros. library.

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Last year ended with the bombshell announcement that Netflix might buy the entire Warner Bros. library. However, after some finagling and a rocky start, Paramount has now emerged as the main suitor for the lucrative library.

At the end of last year, it seemed all but confirmed that the gigantic Warner Bros. library was coming to Netflix as part of a huge buyout deal. This became even clearer when Warner Bros. Discovery rejected Paramount’s initial bid to counter Netflix. However, Paramount recently revised its offer to an astounding US$ 110 billion, or US$ 31 per share, which Warner Bros. Discovery signed off on. Netflix passed on the opportunity for a counteroffer, making Paramount the sole bidder.

Today, Paramount has announced that, if the deal pushes through, they will merge Paramount+ and HBO Max into one streaming service. This means that Paramount’s CBS, Comedy Central, and MTV will be under the same roof as DC, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and Mission: Impossible.

The value of the above names alone makes this into one of the most lucrative deals for Paramount. However, it’s not without its drawbacks. The combined entity will reportedly carry US$ 79 billion in net debt for both purchasing Warner Bros. and refinancing the newly purchased property.

Currently, the deal is expected to go through regulatory approval ending in the second half of 2026.

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Enterprise

ACMobility Launches ChargeFleet: Seamless solution for businesses

B2B solution for corporate fleets and transport groups

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Ayala Group’s ACMobility has launched ChargeFleet, a new B2B digital solution for corporate fleets and transport groups.

The new service introduces a shareable digital wallet that streamlines charging expenses, reduces manual tracking, and improves cost control.

As more organizations explore electrifying their mobility operations, many continue to face operational challenges — including fragmented payment systems, reimbursement delays, and limited visibility over charging usage.

ChargeFleet addresses these gaps by introducing a centralized, shareable digital wallet. Here, fleet managers can allocate and monitor charging credits across multiple drivers across a single platform.

The system is a seamless process designed for long-term usage and easy deployment across any organization.

Once integrated, ACMobility assigns charging credits to the client’s fleet manager. The manager then can distribute these to multiple drivers. Meanwhile, the latter will be able to see and use their assigned credits via the Evro app.

ChargeFleet is available as a prepaid product through the ChargeFleet Store. Users can buy offers via GCash or credit card. No application process is required.

Looking ahead, ACMobility will continue to enhance the ChargeFleet experience with exclusive value-added perks integrated through Evro and Power on Wheels.

The upcoming features highlight ACMobility’s ongoing push to provide a future-proof support system for the evolving needs of their customers’ businesses.

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