Today’s connected world has spawned unique partnerships between organizations that otherwise, would not have materialized in the past. For instance, a payment center has formed a partnership with a public transport company to sell its beep cards. Moreover, the more connected a business, the more opportunities are there to be tapped in the economic horizon.
Gas and technology leader Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (PSPC) recently signed a partnership with Ayala Corp.-led Globe Telecom to set up new cell sites in 14 retail stations in the country. Total investment cost for each site is P15 million. The locations will be in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
Cesar Romero, president and CEO of PSPC and chairman of Shell Companies in the Philippines, said the partnership with Globe Telecom aims to develop stronger market connection with the public. “Our partnership with Globe is in line with our vision for nation-building that includes developing smarter cities and smarter infrastructure,” he said.
He also pointed out that providing stronger connectivity is going to boost progress.
Romero explained that the partnership with Globe supports the company’s drive and advocacy toward nation-building by helping people connect with each other. Being a country with an archipelagic structure, he said, connecting people throughout the country can also be an engine toward inclusive growth.
Once finished, Shell’s network of strategically located stations shall become Go WIFI hot spots that will provide customers with better connectivity. The sites are expected to be installed along major thoroughfares and areas where there is a high population density.
With the business alliance with Globe, Romero added that Shell will also become the first petrol station to offer the scan-to-pay facility of Globe’s GCash.
Shell is also in discussion with GCash for the adoption of cashless payments using quick response (QR) codes. GCash is a mobile wallet service offered by Mynt, a financial-technology company owned by Globe, Ant Financial and Ayala Corp. In August last year GCash introduced the scan-to-pay feature in the GCash App, allowing customers to pay by simply scanning QR codes of merchants using their smartphones. E-payments provide safety and convenience when shopping for goods and services as people need not carry around loads of cash anymore.
“The availability of connection and payment facilities is well in line with our objectives,” Romero said. As far as the ignition risk of mobile phones is concerned, Romero said the advances in technology have made the risk minimal. He added Shell is quite progressive in studying the issue in Europe.
Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu said the collaboration will help lessen the pressure on the company in addressing the challenges in expanding its network infrastructure.
Moreover, he added that the partnership with the energy and gas titan will enable Globe to broaden its network build, amid ravenous demand for mobile services, particularly data.
“This collaboration with Shell is breath of fresh air considering the enormous challenges we encounter in establishing network infrastructure such as cell sites. This also supports our commitment in continuing to build a robust and reliable network for our customers’ expanding data needs,” Cu said.
The collaboration with Shell is expected to help ease the growing need for more telecommunication infrastructure necessary for Globe to provide sufficient coverage and capacities. For several years now, Globe has been aggressive in seeking partnership with government institutions, as well as with private-sector organizations, in a bid to expand its network reach.
“We are constantly seeking ways to improve customer experience, especially in high-traffic and strategic areas. The partnership, which we project will lead to improved mobile services, is a win-win collaboration for the two companies, benefiting both our customers,” Cu emphasized, adding that Globe is hoping to replicate such partnership with other private-sector organizations.
Globe has been trying to expand its network infrastructure for the past several years. Nevertheless, it has been hampered by permitting challenges. At least 25 permits are needed to put up one cell site and the permitting process takes at least eight months to complete, barring major concerns from various agencies, including local government units and homeowners associations, among others.