GLOBE Telecom Inc. (Globe) over the weekend said that it had built 116 new cell sites and upgraded 812 mobile sites to long-term evolution in the first quarter as part of its network and capacity expansion efforts.

The figures are lower compared to the 220 new cell sites and 3,000 mobile sites upgraded a year earlier.

The Ayala-led telco, meanwhile, also deployed 19,544 more fiber-to-the-home lines, or fiber optic cables that can transmit data at very high speeds.

Globe said that while the cell site figures were lower compared to last year's rollout, it was a strategic move aimed at maximizing the utilization of its existing fiber inventory amid a reduction in capital expenditures (capex).

Globe's first quarter capex declined by about 22 percent to P13.7 billion from P17.6 billion in the same period last year.

"Our plan supplements investments we've made in the last 3-4 years," said Joel Agustin, head of Globe Telecom's network planning and engineering.

"We remain focused on improving service consistency and availability to deliver good customer experience and support traffic across regions and territories," he added.

By leveraging its current fiber resources, the telco said that it was aiming to serve the underserved prepaid fiber market, ensuring broader access to reliable and high-quality broadband services.

It added that continuous investments in network infrastructure would help facilitate a range of digital activities, from online learning and remote work to e-commerce and entertainment, in line with a mission to empower individuals and businesses.

Globe shares closed up P9, or 0.45 percent, at P2,004.00 apiece on Friday.