MWC 2012: Philippines’ Globe Telecom Partners With Flash Networks for Mobile Web Acceleration

By Tech Wire Asia

Philippine telecommunications provider Globe Telecom has announced a partnership with Flash Networks for the optimization of mobile web traffic for the purpose of improving user experience, Globe representatives announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this week.

By implementing Flash Networks‘ Harmony Services Gateway, Globe will be able to optimize use of network resources in view of the increasing burden of multimedia-rich content like videos, music and other content. This is likewise viewed as beneficial to many of Globe’s mobile users, considering the limited availability of wireline broadband access to most customers in the country.

Globe has earlier tapped Flash Networks to deploy its Harmony Web & Video Optimization and Analytics packages, which can help reduce load by optimizing webpage and image sizes when accessed from mobile and wireless devices. Globe has now tapped Harmony Monetization solutions to provide a “superior user experience.” The new partnership enables users to select and download content via a one-stop-shop, which includes access to bookmarks, account information, and data plan settings from a single portal.

Globe believes that users will benefit from faster website and smoother video loading, although it does not end there. Flash Networks’ technology lets Globe “better engage with our subscribers by recommending relevant content and simplifying account access management,” says Peter Bithos, Globe Telecom’s Senior Advisor for Consumer Business.

The company posted substantial growth as of end 2011, with PhP 2.0 billion (US$ 46.74 billion) in revenues from mobile browsing alone, which is up 52% from 2010 figures. This has been brought about by increased smartphone penetration among the Filipino mobile consumer base. To help bolster support for an increased demand in mobile broadband services, Globe is investing US$ 790 million in a network modernization program, which should result in a more stable and reliable mobile broadband coverage around the country.