AI-powered energy savings: How Globe is pioneering energy-efficient networks with Qualcomm Dragonwing RAN Automation

About Globe

Globe Telecom is a Fortune Southeast Asia 500 company and the leading digital platform in the Philippines, serving over 62 million mobile customers and driving AI-powered innovation and sustainability. Globe manages an increasingly complex network due to the introduction of new technologies, new spectrum and multiple vendors, and centralized nationwide initiatives, such as coverage of its radio access network (RAN).

Use Case Spotlight

By deploying Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite, Globe reduced nationwide RAN energy consumption by up to 5.5% in seven months, accelerating multi-vendor network modernization, delivering advanced, efficient connectivity for the Philippine market.

Qualcomm Innovation

Globe leverages the Qualcomm Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite, an AI-driven solution that optimizes multi-vendor, multi-generation cellular networks, enabling rapid, near real-time network audits and seamless modernization.

A leading digital platform in the Philippines and a pioneering force in the telecommunications industry, Globe Telecom boasts more than 62 million mobile customers. Beyond being a major player in the country’s telecom sector, they are also a frontrunner in embracing AI-driven digital innovation and sustainability. For example, they have set an ambitious goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, demonstrating their commitment to reducing their environmental footprint, while continuing to drive technological advancements in the industry and better serving the growing Philippine economy. 

Of course, serving more than 62 million mobile customers is not without challenges. With a network comprising multiple generations of cellular network technology (e.g., 4G and 5G) and multiple network equipment vendors, Globe faced an exponential rise in network configurations needed across their thousands of cell sites. To address this challenge and harness AI’s enormous potential to enhance RAN operations, Globe turned to Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. deepening a valuable collaboration that began in 2020. 

Working together with Qualcomm Technologies, Globe deployed the Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite, an AI-driven solution that stands out for its ability to seamlessly synthesize and optimize cell sites spanning multiple vendors and technology generations. Leveraging the Suite’s AI-powered Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) platform, tasks that once took months now run in days and near real-time, driving a new standard of efficiency and interoperability across Globe’s complex network landscape. 

Further, Globe informed us that they have reduced their nationwide RAN energy consumption by up to 5.5% in just seven months of implementation of this AI-driven optimization program. This is a significant milestone which accelerates Globe’s journey toward net-zero emissions, while continuing to deliver advanced experiences for their customers. 

In speaking about these results, Joel Agustin, SVP and Head of Service Planning and Engineering at Globe said, “AI is now embedded in every layer of our network — from intelligent power management to predictive network analytics. Our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies lets us operate an intelligent and self-managing RAN that delights customers, while contributing toward our goal of creating a more energy-efficient network.” 

Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at Globe added, “This collaboration reaffirms our resolve to further improve our network and facilities by lessening our carbon footprint, reducing operational expenditure (OPEX) and collaborating with companies able to support our energy efficiency goals.” 

To achieve these results, the Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite’s SMO utilizes real time KPIs and configuration data from multi-vendor equipment, applies AI and machine learning models to optimize parameters, and then executes changes via open OSS connectors — all on a flexible cloud architecture. 

Globe’s bold adoption of AI demonstrates the opportunity for telcos to improve operational efficiency and energy consumption, while reducing OPEX. We are very honored to be the intelligence engine behind this transformative, AI-driven deployment. 

And this is just the beginning of our AI-focused collaboration with Globe. We are working together to harness agentic AI capabilities for further enhancements, including forecasting traffic surges, self-healing network anomalies and enabling new enterprise services, such as carbon-aware connectivity tiers.