In line with its goal to achieve Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) by 2050, Globe has taken great strides in integrating sustainability efforts into its network operations.
“Our goal at Globe is to continue to operationalize climate action within our network operations. We are proud to be taking tangible steps towards a greener and more sustainable future for all,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.
In 2022, the company secured ISO 50001:2018 certification for its Energy Management System (EnMS) covering key facilities including corporate offices, core network, cell sites, data centers, and stores. This system establishes the company’s framework for energy efficiency, resource conservation, and network optimization as part of its climate action strategy for business.
In partnership with the Ayala Group’s renewable energy platform ACEN, the company was able to shift 10 new facilities to clean energy last year. Globe currently has a total of 24 high-energy-utilization facilities in Luzon which include its headquarters (The Globe Tower) in BGC, Taguig; two in Makati City; six in Quezon City; five in Cavite; three in Cebu; and one each in Mandaluyong, San Juan, Manila, Marikina, Batangas, Laguna, and Tarlac.
Globe encourages more investments towards clean energy by dealing with Retail Energy Suppliers (RES) to support the country’s commitment to reducing GHG emissions by 75 percent in 2030 through the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of the Paris Agreement.
On reducing reliance on fossil fuels, it also piloted alternative energy sources, including solar-hybrid power plants or mini-grid and advanced solar Hybrid Generator Sets, for off-grid and bad-grid cell towers in Luzon.
Aside from financial savings from energy consumption, operations, and maintenance in cell sites, the use of renewable energy and hybrid power alternative sources increases site uptime and ensures the availability of continuous backup power during disasters. This year, Globe looks to progressively deploy the technology across its sites nationwide.
Globe is also building a green and low-carbon optical network with the help of Huawei Technologies. Last year, it deployed energy-efficient technologies in its Access and Transport Networks to optimize its operations.
For its access network, the company utilized the Blade Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and Intelligent Optical Network Terminal (ONT). Blade OLT is deployed in various outdoor wireless sites to reduce energy consumption by 50% by using natural heat dissipation. The Intelligent ONT, on the other hand, utilizes an Intelligent Application Performance Management (APM) that reduces energy consumption by 30% by optimizing device performance for active and idle modes.
For its transport network, the company deployed Access Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and Optical Cross Connect (OCX). Access DWDM simplifies the traditional equipment rooms to outdoor cabinets, resulting in faster rollouts by reducing space and energy consumption by 60% and 40%, respectively. Similarly, the OXC simplifies multiple cabinets, subracks, and fibers into one equipment, saving 80% of space and 70% of energy consumption.
Lastly, Globe introduced sustainability as a metric for its network equipment and software vendors, representing 10% of the overall evaluation criteria. Aside from being assessed in technical and financial metrics, vendors must also look at how their products can contribute to the company’s climate action strategy. Globe engages its business partners, vendors, and suppliers, to adopt and promote sustainable practices that the company implements.
All these initiatives contribute to the company’s commitment to Climate Action including its participation in the UN-backed Race to Zero global campaign, rallying non-state actors to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer zero-carbon world by 2050.
In 2021, it became the first publicly-listed Philippine company to commit to the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). It also committed to supporting the framework set by the globally-recognized Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and vowed to abide by its recommendations for effective climate-related disclosures.
To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.