The Globe Group showcased its innovative approach to addressing the effects of climate change at the recent GSMA M360 Asia Pacific conference. The event, which took place for the first time in Seoul, South Korea, brought together industry leaders from across the region to discuss the future of mobile technology and its impact on the economies of Asia Pacific countries.

Rofil Sheldon Magto, Senior Manager for Regional Communications at Globe, emphasized the company’s commitment to addressing climate-related challenges.  He joined other renowned speakers during a panel discussion about the role of the mobile industry in fostering resilience to disasters titled “What’s Next in the Connected World? – ‘Enhanced Connectivity for tomorrow.’”

“The Globe Group understands that technology plays a vital role in mitigating the impacts of disasters.  However, we also acknowledge that we cannot do it alone and addressing these challenges requires a combination of innovation, governance, and strong multi-stakeholder partnerships,” he pointed out.

Magto also underscored the importance of collaboration in addressing climate risks.

“Public-private partnerships (PPPs) play a significant role in mitigating disaster risks by incorporating robust disaster risk management practices and offering opportunities to pool resources, expertise, and experience. This collaboration helps facilitate immediate access to information and enable swift response to affected communities, as outlined by the principles of the Humanitarian Connectivity Charter,” he said, referring to the GSMA document that signifies the commitment of  160 mobile network operators from 112 countries to improved access to communication and information in support of humanitarian response.

Magto noted that the Philippines is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to disasters, with multiple typhoons visiting annually, and risks of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, among others. Such risks are amplified by disinformation, fueled by heavy social media use among Filipinos.

Kimberly Brown, Head of the GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation programme, affirmed the key role the mobile industry plays in fostering disaster resilience.

“Mobile operators, such as Globe, are instrumental in disseminating life-saving early warnings. They are also at the forefront of leveraging emerging technologies, such as responsible AI by design, to improve how societies prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters,” she said.

Globe’s approach to climate-related challenges includes the deployment of early warning systems and monitoring in collaboration with various agencies. In 2021, the company, in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), launched the G-Climate platform, which uses predictive analytics and weather data to improve business resilience during disasters.

Globe has also been proactive in emergency response and disaster recovery. It deploys booths offering free mobile and internet access in calamity-stricken areas. Globe also uses its donation platforms to gather nationwide support, with funds sent to non-government organization (NGO) partners to provide immediate relief. Globe also offers free access to verified government websites that provide information on emergencies.

Additionally, Globe has equipped local government units with the M360 platform, offering free SMS blast services for 30 days to aid in disaster relief and recovery operations. The company also ensures that its cell sites and data centers are resilient enough to withstand Category 5 typhoons and are equipped with hybrid solar generators for backup power.

The GSMA is a global organization unifying over 1,000 mobile operators and businesses across the ecosystem and related industries to advance innovation and reduce inequalities around the world.

At the GSMA M360 APAC conference, attendees delved into how digital technologies and services are integrating into every sector of the economy, offering both new use cases and long-term sustainable solutions. The event also featured speakers from Ookla, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Tony Blair Institute for Global Change on how mobile innovations will improve people’s lives.

Globe’s participation in the GSMA M360 APAC conference underscores its commitment to leveraging technology, governance, and partnerships to address the challenges posed by climate change and ensure a resilient future for all.

To learn more about Globe, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/.