Globe said it has fully restored mobile and broadband services in Metro Manila and parts of Luzon after a network disruption caused by multiple fiber cuts on May 12.
The outage affected calls, text messaging, and internet services in several Metro Manila cities and nearby provinces, including Rizal. Services returned to normal by 10:30 p.m. after its technical and network teams completed restoration work.
Initial findings showed that underground fiber optic cables in Paco, Manila were damaged during drainage excavation activities carried out by a subcontractor of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). According to Globe, several fiber optic cables were cut in the same area, affecting core network lines used to deliver services to customers.
“It is very unfortunate this disruption happened, which could have been prevented had there been prior coordination with some agencies,” said Joel Agustin, senior vice president for Service Planning and Engineering at Globe.
Globe said it is now conducting a wider investigation into the multiple fiber cuts reported in different areas. The company said it is trying to determine whether the incidents were accidental or happened in succession.
“Our teams worked continuously to resolve the issue and minimize disruption for our customers. We highly value the availability of our services and the trust our customers place in us, and incidents like this underscore the importance of strict adherence to established coordination and communication protocols by contractors prior to any excavation activities,” Agustin said.
The company is coordinating with contractors and government agencies to establish what caused the disruption and identify accountability.
“We are taking this matter seriously and are coordinating closely with our partners and government agencies to establish accountability and prevent similar incidents moving forward,” Agustin said.
Globe said it plans to strengthen coordination with the DPWH, local government units, and contractors to better protect underground telecom infrastructure and improve response measures during future incidents.
