Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II and Meryl Schlachterman, Chairman of the 19th Philippine Advertising Congress used 3G in their live video call over Globe’s trial network at the Waterfront Hotel.

3G technology allows fast transmission speeds that make high bandwidth applications such as video calls and video streaming possible. Browsing the Internet and downloading large files would, likewise, be faster when using 3G as this technology offers full mobility, richer experience and greater convenience to subscribers.

In July this year, Globe successfully completed its video calls, which allowed not only voice but also fullmotion real-time videos between two mobile subscribers.

Globe was the first Philippine operator to accomplish the feat, with 3G trial permit and frequencies from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Last October 23, 2005, Globe formally filed its application with the NTC for the grant of 3G frequency bands, making it the first local telecom company to comply with all of the NTC’s 3G requirements to provide the service. Other applicants have until December to complete the requirements.

Once the NTC awards the frequencies in 2006, Globe expects to spend the year building the network to make the service fully available in 2007.

Initially, there may be a very selective market for the service due to the prohibitive cost of 3G-ready handsets, Globe President and CEO Gerardo C. Ablaza Jr. acknowledged, "But the cost will eventually go down."

"Based on experience, prices of cellular phones go down after it is introduced in the market. The efficiency of the technology will eventually bring down the cost of telecom services," he pointed out.