Globe’s LTE has been already available for almost a year now, but it’s been only limited to their postpaid customers. Finally, after several months, they are now making LTE available to prepaid customers as well.
Affordable Prepaid LTE Devices
First up, the Globe Tattoo Prepaid LTE Mobile Wi-Fi, which, as its name suggests, is a pocket Wi-Fi device that lets you connect your Wi-Fi enabled devices, or hook it up to your computer thru USB. It can accommodate up to 10, so you can also share it with some of your friends and family members when on-the-go. The device itself is a Huawei E5776, a Cat. 4 LTE modem which theoretically supports up to 150Mbps, though Globe is only promising up to 42Mbps, probably as to not to disappoint customers. It is powered by a large 3000mAh battery which Globe reps say can actually charge other mobile devices. The kicker — it’s relatively affordable at just P4,995. Just so you know, this particular Huawei device sells for around P11,000 in other stores.
The other device, the Globe Tattoo Prepaid LTE Dongle/Stick, is a smaller device which only connects to your computer (and some Android devices with USB host support). I am not sure what specific device they are using for this, but it surely supports LTE up to 42Mbps (theoretically up to 100Mbps). It’s available for only P3,995.
A prepaid LTE SIM card will be also available for P299 and Globe says they will have enough stocks of it.
Prepaid LTE Plans
The two Globe LTE prepaid devices come with free 5GB data allowance initially valid for 7 days. After consuming that, you can opt for their MaxSurf subscriptions, which are volume-based. The 3-day 700MB plan costs P100, the 5-day 1200MB plan is P170, and the 15-day 3500MB plan costs P500. They did not mention if PowerSurf or SuperSurf prepaid plans will work with LTE, though I’ll ask.
I think that, if they really don’t allow unlimited data plans on LTE, it’s because they don’t want to let the network get constrained and congested easily, which is already happening on Smart (not to bash them, but it really is happening) in some areas especially if it’s densely populated. After all, LTE is still a wireless network just like 3G. :-)
LTE Coverage
Globe says LTE is now available in Makati, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig, Manila, Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Las Piñas, Cebu City, Davao City, and most cities in Bohol, Batangas, Negros Occidental, La Union, Rizal, Aklan (including Boracay), Laguna, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Cavite, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Isabela, Ilocos, Quirino, and Tarlac. They are saying that they are continuing their aggressive LTE roll-out to cover more cities and provinces in the country.
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