Final 52 GIDA sites go live, expanding digital access to remote Filipinos.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced that Globe has successfully connected 180 sites it awarded to the company under DICT Bayanihan SIM Project through the JuanSIM ng Bayan Program. The government launched the program to bring digital connectivity to Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) nationwide.
The milestone was achieved on June 30 with the activation of the final 52 GIDA sites assigned to Globe. Of these, 43 sites were completed through an accelerated two-month deployment, joining 128 existing sites across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said, “The Bayanihan SIM Project reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that every Filipino, regardless of location, has access to meaningful digital connectivity. By bringing connectivity to geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities, we are enabling greater access to education, government services, livelihood opportunities, and other essential digital resources. We thank Globe for its continued partnership in helping advance our shared goal of inclusive digital transformation.”
With connectivity now available across all Globe-assigned sites, more remote communities can access mobile services that support education, livelihood opportunities, government services, and communication with family and loved ones, advancing the government’s digital inclusion efforts.
“Our mission has always been to connect more Filipinos and make digital opportunities accessible to everyone,” said Carl Cruz, President and CEO of Globe. “Fulfilling all 180 sites entrusted to Globe supports our digital inclusion agenda and ensures that even the most remote communities can benefit from meaningful connectivity.”
Delivering connectivity where it is needed most
Bringing connectivity to geographically isolated communities required extensive planning, coordination, and strong collaboration between the DICT and Globe technical and operations teams, and its partners.
Many of the project sites were located in remote schools that could only be reached after long overland journeys, sea travel, and, in some cases, hour-long hikes while carrying equipment. Utility poles and other materials had to be manually transported from the nearest accessible roads to school sites, requiring close coordination among field teams and local communities.
Deployment teams also worked through unpredictable weather, difficult terrain, limited transportation options, intermittent power supply, and other logistical constraints, making construction particularly challenging. Despite these conditions, Globe successfully completed the assigned sites within the project’s timeline, demonstrating its commitment to delivering reliable connectivity to underserved communities.
Enabling digital inclusion
The newly activated sites will support the distribution and use of Bayanihan SIM cards, each providing beneficiaries with 25 GB of monthly data to help students, teachers, and families access online learning resources, digital government services, communication platforms, and other essential online services.
Globe was awarded project lots across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao under the Bayanihan SIM Project. From January to June 2026, the company has already distributed more than 355,400 Bayanihan SIM cards to beneficiaries and continues to work toward its target deployment of over 500,400 Bayanihan SIMs under the Php 1.5 billion program.
As Globe continues to support national digital transformation initiatives, it remains committed to expanding connectivity to underserved communities, ensuring that more Filipinos have access to digital tools that enable learning, economic opportunities, and stronger connections.
For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph.
