Actual implementation of the aesthetic tree solution in Urdaneta Village, Makati City.
To address complaints about how gigantic and unpleasant looking cell sites create an eye sore, Globe cleverly camouflaged their cell sites in exclusive villages as palm trees.
The concept came from the introduction of the Outdoor Distributed Antenna System (ODAS), a state-of-the-art technology that utilizes specialized lampposts with integrated radio signal transmission capabilities.
“The use of tree-shaped cellphone towers is part of Globe Telecom’s efforts to improve wireless signal in exclusive villages in line with our network transformation initiative,” Globe Head of Network Technologies Strategy Emmanuel Estrada stated, indicating Globe’s $790 million network and IT modernization program, which is said to be completed within the year.
“The disguised cell phone towers will be difficult to identify as such and they even work to beautify the area where these infrastructures are installed,” Estrada added.
Estrada elaborated that amidst the good intentions of cell sites, certain residents from exclusive villages have been opposing to the installation of the towering infrastructures as it takes away the aesthetic appeal of their area. Using the cell sites in the guise of palm trees is one effective way to address this concern without sacrificing the quality of the network services.
Separately, the ODAS solution allocates a base station’s signals to multiple low power active antenna systems installed in nominal locations inside residential subdivisions with the use of fiber-optic cables. It also supports all frequency bands used by wireless carriers, including LTE, thereby providing stronger support for mobile data services.
Currently, Globe has employed the solution in Urdaneta Village in Makati City. Meanwhile, the ODAS solution has been effectively deployed in Dasmariñas Village.