MANILA, Philippines — October 30, 2026. Globe Telecom is preparing for a major surge in mobile network activity during Undas 2026, as millions of Filipinos travel to cemeteries, memorial parks, transport terminals and their home provinces to commemorate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
With the October 31 to November 2 observance expected to bring heavy crowds to public spaces, the telecommunications giant has placed its technical teams on alert, reviewed network capacity and strengthened coordination with government agencies to help prevent connectivity problems.
The company says its network is ready for the anticipated increase in mobile usage.
But a crucial question remains: Will Globe’s preparations be enough to maintain reliable calls, messages and internet connections when large numbers of subscribers gather in the same locations?
The issue goes beyond slower mobile internet.
During one of the country’s busiest annual travel periods, dependable connectivity helps families locate one another, obtain transportation updates, coordinate journeys and contact emergency responders when necessary.
Globe prepares for heavy mobile network traffic from October 31 to November 2
Globe senior vice president and head of network planning and engineering Joel Agustin said the company supports the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) directive for telecommunications providers to strengthen their network preparedness.
According to Globe’s October 2026 announcement, network engineers have reviewed available capacity and projected demand in locations where large crowds are expected.
These include:
- Cemeteries and memorial parks receiving families and visitors.
- Bus terminals and other public transportation facilities.
- Travel routes and crowded commercial areas.
- Other locations expected to experience increased mobile usage during the holiday period.
The company plans to closely monitor network performance, manage congestion and maintain technical personnel on standby to respond to disruptions.
Agustin also emphasized Globe’s continuing coordination with the NTC, its regional offices, local government units and relevant public agencies.
The objective is to maintain communications services throughout the holiday period while enabling rapid coordination if network problems arise.
However, the reviewed announcements do not provide a numerical forecast of the increase in mobile data traffic, the number of additional mobile sites to be deployed or a guarantee of uninterrupted coverage.
Why mobile signals could weaken during Undas
The expected surge in network use is closely connected to how Filipinos communicate during major holidays.
Many families now rely on smartphones for navigation, messaging, digital payments, ride-hailing services, photo sharing and video calls.
These activities may increase mobile network demand in crowded places.
When too many devices attempt to use the same network resources simultaneously, users can experience congestion.
Depending on network capacity and local conditions, congestion may result in slower data speeds, delayed messages or difficulty establishing calls.
Even when signal bars remain visible on a smartphone, the quality of the connection can deteriorate if the serving network becomes overloaded.
For Globe, that makes network management particularly important during peak visiting periods.
The company is preparing to monitor traffic and address problems as they emerge, but actual network performance will only be established during the holiday itself.
Previous Globe network disruptions highlight the importance of resilience
Globe’s preparations come against a backdrop of continuing questions about telecommunications reliability in the Philippines.
Earlier in October, the company activated backup international internet routes after damage to a submarine cable affected connectivity for some users.
As previously reported by WWC ONE MEDIA in Globe Activates Backup Internet Routes After Subsea Cable Break — But Full Repairs Could Still Take Weeks, the disruption highlighted the importance of redundancy in telecommunications infrastructure.
Although international submarine cable disruptions and localized mobile congestion involve different technical issues, both demonstrate why backup systems, monitoring and rapid incident response matter.
Undas 2026 will provide another practical test of network preparedness during a period of concentrated public demand.
NTC orders nationwide coordination to safeguard communications
Globe is not acting alone.
The National Telecommunications Commission has directed its regional offices to intensify coordination with telecommunications companies and public safety agencies during the Undas period.
In an October 27 announcement, the regulator instructed regional officials to work with local government units, police, disaster risk reduction and management offices, and emergency response organizations.
The NTC also ordered monitoring of Civic Action Groups and Amateur Radio Groups engaged in public assistance operations.
These organizations can provide supplementary communications support during emergencies or situations requiring additional coordination.
NTC Commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez stressed the importance of reliable communications and cooperation among government agencies as large crowds gather nationwide.
The regulator’s initiative reflects the need to maintain contact between travelers, residents, service providers and authorities.
It also means telecommunications companies may face closer scrutiny if subscribers report service problems in areas with heavy public activity.
Globe has faced regulatory concerns over mobile broadband performance
The latest preparedness announcement also comes after the NTC took enforcement action over mobile broadband performance.
In September 2026, the regulator raised concerns about inadequate mobile service quality affecting major telecommunications operators, including Globe, Smart and DITO.
WWC ONE MEDIA reported the development in Globe, DITO Face ₱100,000 Daily NTC Penalty Over Poor Mobile Broadband Service.
The regulator’s action followed validation tests indicating that service problems persisted in certain urban areas.
The telecommunications industry subsequently questioned aspects of the enforcement process, including the standards and procedures used to assess network performance.
As discussed in Telcos Challenge NTC Fines, Raise Due Process and Testing Standards Concerns, industry representatives argued that technical testing methodologies and regulatory procedures needed to be clear and consistently applied.
These disputes do not establish that Globe will experience problems during Undas.
They do, however, provide relevant context for the company’s latest network-readiness commitments.
Globe’s automated network technology could help manage congestion
Globe has also been investing in technology intended to improve network reliability during periods of unusual demand.
In May 2026, the company detailed two initiatives: Automated Outage Response and Intelligent Traffic Management.
Automated Outage Response is designed to detect service disruptions and optimize nearby mobile sites to help maintain connections.
Intelligent Traffic Management, meanwhile, aims to redistribute users toward less congested network cells with available capacity.
According to Globe’s published performance claims, the automation initiatives have demonstrated improvements in connectivity retention during outages and in service experience under heavy demand.
The company reported that its Intelligent Traffic Management initiative could improve user experience by up to 20% in tested conditions.
Globe said the solutions had been validated across Metro Manila, with nationwide deployment targeted within 2026.
However, these performance figures are company-reported results, not independently verified measurements of Undas 2026 network conditions.
The reviewed holiday announcements also do not establish the precise extent to which these technologies have been deployed in every cemetery, terminal or high-traffic location.
The effectiveness of the company’s broader network investments will therefore need to be assessed through actual service performance.
Undas travel surge puts additional pressure on telecommunications services
The expected increase in mobile usage coincides with a wider rise in public travel.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport is preparing to accommodate approximately 1.25 million passengers from October 27 to November 4, according to airport operator New NAIA Infra Corp.
The operator expects October 30 to be its busiest day, with approximately 149,000 travelers projected to pass through the airport.
The forecasts underscore the scale of holiday movement that telecommunications providers must consider.
Passengers increasingly rely on mobile data for booking confirmations, airline notifications, electronic boarding information and communication with relatives.
Even short connectivity interruptions can create inconvenience when travelers need time-sensitive information.
WWC ONE MEDIA explored the aviation side of the holiday rush in NAIA Braces for 1.25 Million Undas Travelers as October 30 Rush Nears — But Can Airport Upgrades Prevent Holiday Chaos?.
At the same time, road traffic is expected to increase as families travel outside Metro Manila.
Public and private transport terminals, major expressways and local road networks will experience their own operational pressures.
This makes the reliability of mobile communications particularly important for passengers, motorists and emergency personnel.
Cemetery crowds present another connectivity challenge
Many Filipinos are preparing to visit major burial grounds, including Manila North Cemetery, Manila South Cemetery and memorial parks across Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has announced the deployment of 2,419 personnel to help manage traffic and provide public assistance near major cemeteries.
Authorities have also introduced traffic adjustments and security preparations ahead of the observance.
At Manila North Cemetery, special visiting hours and restrictions on vehicle entry are among the measures intended to manage large crowds.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously detailed these changes in UNDAS 2026 ALERT: Manila North Cemetery Announces Strict Entry Rules, Vehicle Ban and October 27 Deadline — But Are Thousands of Visitors Ready for the Restrictions?.
For visitors, smartphones can provide access to travel advisories, contact details, navigation and other essential information.
The ability to reach family members also becomes particularly important when relatives become separated in crowded areas.
But mobile service quality may differ between locations.
A network that performs well in one cemetery or transport terminal may experience congestion at another, depending on available capacity and the number of simultaneous users.
That is why real-time network monitoring is central to Globe’s holiday preparations.
What subscribers should do before traveling during Undas
The NTC has advised the public to prepare for the holiday period by maintaining access to important information and communication channels.
Travelers can take several practical precautions.
Keep phones charged. Carrying a power bank may help maintain access to communications during extended trips or crowded cemetery visits.
Save emergency contact numbers. Important numbers should be available even when mobile data is slow or temporarily unavailable.
Coordinate meeting points. Families visiting crowded cemeteries should agree on locations where they can regroup if they become separated.
Download necessary information early. Maps, tickets, booking confirmations and other travel documents can be saved offline where supported.
Use alternative communication methods when necessary. Ordinary calls or text messages may sometimes work when mobile internet services are congested, although they are not guaranteed to remain available during every type of outage.
Check official advisories. Travelers should follow announcements from telecommunications providers, transportation agencies and local authorities.
These measures can reduce inconvenience, but they are not substitutes for dependable telecommunications infrastructure.
Will Globe’s network hold up under the Undas 2026 surge?
Globe’s network-readiness announcement reflects an important commitment as the Philippines prepares for one of its major annual periods of travel and public gathering.
The company has reviewed capacity, planned active monitoring and placed technical personnel on standby.
The NTC is also strengthening nationwide coordination to help maintain communications and respond to reported problems.
But several questions remain unanswered.
How much will mobile traffic actually increase?
Will certain cemeteries or transport terminals experience congestion despite the preparations?
And how quickly can providers restore normal service if technical problems arise?
For now, Globe’s announcement represents a statement of preparedness rather than proof of future network performance.
The actual outcome will depend on the volume and distribution of mobile traffic, available network capacity, infrastructure resilience and the speed of technical response.
For millions of Filipinos traveling to remember their departed loved ones, mobile connectivity is more than a matter of convenience.
It can be essential to staying informed, communicating with family and obtaining help during emergencies.
Globe says it is prepared for Undas 2026. The real test begins when holiday crowds gather — and millions of Filipinos reach for their phones at the same time.
