Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Passenger on plane to Ayungin Shoal got this message from Globe Telecom – “Welcome to China”

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By Raïssa Robles

A passenger on board the plane that was circling over the supply ship delivering provisions to Ayungin Shoal got the text message below on his Nokia phone while in that area:

The Philippines is asserting sovereignty over Ayungin Shoal and has grounded an old ship, BRP Sierra Madre, there. Ayungin is within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

However, China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, insists Ayungin belongs to China.

Does the message mean that insofar as the Philippine telecom carrier Globe is concerned, the Ayungin area is indeed Chinese territory? Or does this mean Globe has no signal there but China Mobile’s signal extends all the way to that area?

I am eager to hear Globe’s explanation on this matter. I phoned the Globe spokeswoman just now but she was not picking up. I know. It’s a Sunday. Most people – except journalists – don’t work on Sunday.

All along I thought you had to activate roaming before you can get roaming.

I asked another person who was with the same passenger about the Globe text message. He told me there were actually three messages sent to the Nokia phone that was carrying a Globe SIM card. The first message is what you see above. The second message details the roaming rates. And the third message says – “Enjoy your stay.”

I wonder if the reporters accompanying the supply ship also got the same text message.

Irony of ironies. This text message from Globe Telecom came shortly before the Philippines filed its memorial asserting its claim over the Kalayaan Group of islands in the South China Sea. You can read Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario’s statement today on the filing before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) by clicking here.
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Comments

  1. Ms Raissa
    There is a limit on range of signal from cellsite. For example there is a limit of 120kilometers for GSM/2G.
    There is a very high chance that there is a cellsite in one of the Chinese vessels where the signal may have been received by the phone onboard the airplane flying across the area.

  2. ano ba yan..

    ” We hate China but we’re using Huawei”

    buti na lang Smart Postpaid ako…hahahah

    • @ Rene- Ipil,

      Ok na sana kaso ang nakakaduda dahil pinagbigyan nang Sandiganbayan na makapagpiyansa nang one milyon pesos si taruc nang P.C.S.O. at ibang kasama nito sa kasong Plunder na nagkakahalaga nang 366 milyon pesos o mahigit gayon napakalinaw sa Batas na ang sinumang may kasong mahigit 50 milyon pesos ay Non Bailable, BAKIT ito puwede? Ano kaya napagkasunduan, MALAKI BA?

      Dito sumagi sa isip na baka inumpisahan nang Sandiganbayan pagbigyan makapagpiyansa mga ito para sa ibang mga susunod na mayroong kaparihong Plunder Case na sina Tanda, Sexy , Pogi at iba pa? kaya Makapag PIYANSA din mga ito… Laking GULO ito kapag nagkatotoo iniisip ko…Hindi papayag ang TaongBayan sa ganyan trato lalo na ang ibang naakusahan ay nasa hospital arrest pa at VIP pa din ang ibang Mandarambong sa kaban nang Bayan….

  4. Hi Ms. Raissa, I experienced the same thing but I was already at NAIA and not somewhere over Ayungin Shoal. When I turned on my phone as we landed last Feb. 26, the same message greeted me. I even joked among my friends that I was away for just two weeks and China had taken over already. I thought it was something to be alarmed about, but forgot about it eventually. I even screen grabbed it and posted it on my FB wall.

  5. Globe does not propogate for china as i believe he he he

    the simple translation to that message was: china mobile signal is so strong it can reaches up to Ayungin Shoal or father from china, it is a welcome for Roaming, but where the hell you will buy load???
    None!!!

    Smart and Globe telecom can also stregthen their signal so that Philippine personnel can get clear signal he he he kaso mahina population kaya walang repeaterssssss he he he every airport i have been through, a welcome signal for roaming appears….that is part of telecom business…so no worries….

    China can never succeed in claiming islands far away from them he he he only WAR is their solution…however if that third world war will be coming, then the Nostradamus prophecy that a small country (Philippine) united with the big country (USA) will win the war against agressive penetrator (Cnina) he he he he

  6. Allow me to answer the following questions:

    Does the message mean that insofar as the Philippine telecom carrier Globe is concerned, the Ayungin area is indeed Chinese territory?
    – No. If you go up north to Batanes islands, you can receive signal from Hong Kong telco operator. It doesn’t mean that Batanes is part of Hong Kong as far as any local telco is concerned.

    Or does this mean Globe has no signal there but China Mobile’s signal extends all the way to that area?
    – Yes. China Mobile has signal coverage in that area. Globe does not know your particular location, it only knows that you are being served by China Mobile, a roaming partner.

    Is this a made up story?
    – No. The message is a welcome message to a roaming subscriber.

    Who sent the message?
    – Globe. The phone received a signal from China Mobile and tries to log-in to it. China Mobile checks with home operator (Globe) if the phone is allowed to roam. Globe said yes, China Mobile allowed the phone to log-in to their network, and Globe sent a welcome message. Globe doesn’t know that the phone is in Ayungin Shoal, it only knows that the phone is within China Mobile coverage.

    It is because Globe network supplier is Huawei, A Chinese Telecom company controlled by Chinese Government.
    – No, it is not about Huawei. This is a standard roaming service. (side comment >> Not to mention that almost everything now is made in China.)

    That will happen when the China Coast Guard Ship has on-board cellsite which is very much possible. The signal pickup by Globe subscriber is from that on-board cell that is homed to RNC/BSC in China.
    – Yes, most likely. A cell site signal coverage can go around 10 to 15 kms. It is unlikely to get a signal from a cell site from mainland. The ship’s cell site is connected to China Mobile via satellite connection.

    China Mobile satellite signal is picked up by Globe phone.
    – No. Satellite phones use different technology vs. mobile phone. Knowing that the phone is Nokia means it does not support satellite coverage.

    Why does the screen still show the carrier as Globe if the phone was already roaming on China Mobile’s network. It should have shown the China Mobile name & the roaming icon. The image doesn’t make sense.
    – The picture was taken after the mobile phone returned to Globe network. Or the welcome message is delayed, it was sent after the mobile phone is back to Globe network.

    That’s why i’m using SMART.
    – I assume this person has never been to Ayungin Shoal…

    • Worth the long read, and echoes commenter Johnny Lin’s sentiment below that this article is “much ado about nothing”. Di pa nga nakuha side ng operator and yet the article already kind of maliciously implies that this means Globe is siding with China’s territory claim.

        • What Pippa, Johnny Lin and myself are trying to say is that accusing Globe of siding with China is malicious, specially without getting any technical consultation or research. I guess that’s what differentiate a journalist from a blogger.

          I agree that if the cell site is installed in one of our islands, it is a big deal. Since China Mobile is operating in Philippines’ frequency spectrum, NTC should be doing something about it. Why are we bashing Globe and not making a call to our government? Who is in charge of enforcement of our law?

        • I would not go as far that the article was maliciously accusing Globe but agree on the implication that Globe knowingly is in bed with China mobile in surrendering the sovereignty of the Philippines in that particular part of the sea. Also believe that not anyone from Globe knew about this international technological glitch of their cellular transmission.

          Conclusiding, this misunderstanding is the offshoot of people involved with poor technical knowledge on communications rationalizing thru their patriotic hearts rather than intellectual reasoning. they could not fathom that a Philippine telecom would allow China mobile transmitting messages in their phone in an area closer to the Philippines than China.

          Couple that concept by relaying the message to a passionate reporter on the subject of China’s claim in Scarborough Shoal who herself admitted many times before that she was still wanting on technical knowledge of internet and modern gadgets. Remember in the early stage of CPM. Her simple wish was to inherit the iPhone of her husband. End result is miscommunication and misconception!

          Globe info officer said succinctly, “we can’t control what others are doing” True China is claiming Ayungin, we can’t control their wish but we can contest it. China is powerful and has financial resources supporting their soldiers, fishermen patrolling or visiting the area. If they decide to supply them with cell sites from their own satellite feed thru their private carriers like Hua Wei, Philippines can’t do anything about it except to file a complaint in the proper International body. But this is cellular communication and we all know that different carriers have roaming contracts between themselves. By this alone there is blurring of territorial coverage since the carrier with powerful satellite feed and land transmission has an edge over their communication system in gray zones. If China asked their local mobile to supply them with cellular coverage in that area, nothing could the Philippines do since it is a business deal. We can’t control another government business transaction like Atty Castillo of Globe said. China mobile was advertising it’s product when it introduces itself to every unlock cellphones with open SIM entering their territorial coverage. If it is China’s military satellite powerfully taking over cellular communication there, best that we could do is file a protest or ask Globe or Smart or Sun to put a stronger cell site there? Will they? Hell no because it is not profitable business wise. How about our government? No way, we are so poor we could not even relocate Typhoon Yolanda victims in a short period of time. It is what it is and we must honestly admit our financial and military incapabilities.

          What we should be asking is if Smart, Globe or Sun do the same thing for foreign roaming phones? Do they also automatically send messages to roaming phones upon entering Philippine territory this message “Welcome to the Philippines, It’s more fun in the Philippines” if they don’t, the govt should investigate these carriers why they don’t send the message automatically like China mobile does?

          We are in serious international dispute with China now; fanning the fire with misconception is dangerous not only for the negotiations but mainly to our soldiers station in that remote living in a decaying old ship dead in the ocean.

          Let it go!

        • Although I have poor technical knowledge I can well see the legal international implications of such a message.

          China, in the past has used radio signals to claim territorial jurisdiction. See my succeeding story – http://raissarobles.com/2014/03/31/globe-telecom-says-its-investigating-welcome-to-china-mobile-message/

          For your information, I phoned the Ayala Corporation spokeswoman first before publication, who told me to get in touch with the Globe Telecom spokesman, who didn’t answer her mobile.

        • Just for the sake of discussion.
          “Legal international complication of such message” ?

          What will Globe investigate? What can they do on the message put out by a Chinese corporation controlled by their state? Will Globe shut down the Chinese satellite? Please read Interaksyon 5 Victor Agustin column on the reach of US laws on Filipinos holding Citibank card and deposits in Philippine banks. How come US law has to be followed by Philippine banks when we have a law on bank secrecy, meaning US law tramples on our law. Compare this with that inadvertent message received by a Globe sim. Which is more sinister and over reaching?

          Courtesy letter of Atty Castillo is the final standard answer of large corporations. The Real world. Like what Atty Castillo said, we don’t have control on what they do, They could have been doing radio contact or morse code or drum communication for a long time including teleportation in the future but their capability does not mean they have indisputable title on the islands as long as the Philippine government presses legal action that those islands belong to the Philippines, China will have to defend in UN court. PNoy is on the right track. At the end of the day, this is solely what we can do.

          On our own we can’t win a war against China. Unless US is on our side in action from day one. Inciting netizens unnecessarily is counterproductive. Let it go and leave it to PNoy and DFA.

        • if indeed, the explanation is simply overlapping signals, why is it taking globe telecom so long to come foreward and make a statement? globe’s liaison officer ought to be giving flowers and champagne to raissa for bringing up questions that should have been so easy to answer. this is a chance for globe to make good public relation exercise, better than having suggestion box in the foyer of their building canvassing public opinion, how best they can serve the public and if the public is satisfied with globe’s performance. it is often those not in the loop that have germ of an idea worth propagating.

          good on raissa for asking questions. globe should be professional enough and well equip to give her answers, not give her the roundabout, stall her, make her feel small for asking questions. we should not be afraid to ask questions too, no matter how stupid it may sound. big businesses have well paid people to answer queries. they should not be twiddling their thumbs and glared at customers who ask questions, hoping they’ll go away.

        • Dear Moonie,

          I don’t mind asking questions that make me feel small because anyway I am small.

          Raissa

        • To moonie, let me itemize:
          1. Size is irrelevant. We are having intellectual discussion. (You might be confusing her from the Eat Bulaga host.)
          2. Why it took too long? The blog was posted on Sunday. Globe released a statement the next day. (Same thing if I ask why it took you a day to comment.)
          3. Globe should be thanking Raissa. – For opening up this discussion, maybe. For implying that Globe sided with China, unlikely. Still irrelevant.

          To Raissa. It was not a question about your technical knowledge. It was about the attempt to sensationalize a “conspiracy theory” based on a text message, without proper consultation or research. Great power, great responsibility. Your words are powerful. Without responsibility, we are bullying – like what China is doing to us.

  7. That will happen when the China Coast Guard Ship has on-board cellsite which is very much possible. The signal pickup by Globe subscriber is from that on-board cell that is homed to RNC/BSC in China.

  8. I’m no expert with regards to telecommunication, lalo na sa cell, but i think this is what happen

    Since walang signal ang globe sa Ayungin Shoal and Globe Philippines is using Huawei, it could be that frequency of both cellular provider match. Kaya ng mag send ng message ang china, it went thru the globe sim.

    But then again, Globe Philippines should have their own operating frequency even they use the same Huawei equipment.

  9. Fact: Philippine telcos including the Philippines do not own satellites for transmission.
    China does including their military. Also, China can afford to provide satellite phones to their soldiers in that area. Globe probably contracts China mobile for their overlapping territorial transmission.

    Sensible is a for profit telecom company would not put a cell site in the middle of nowhere, reaching a few hundred kilometers to serve few transient people? Thinking otherwise is asinine business decision.

    In the middle of remote China sea, how about a simple explanation that Globe has a contract with China mobile whose satellite picked up a Globe SIM card and automatically sends the message per contractual obligation, proof of which is Globe remained the carrier on the phone while if the carrier is already China mobile their name would appear on the phone. Or it is plain cross communication in a busy wireless system in the sky all over the world.

    “It is not a perfect world, much ado about nothing”

    • I think it isn’t.

      I shall explain later why.

      I am just waiting for Globe Telecom’s explanation. I have been in touch with their spokeswoman and she said Globe would look into the matter.

      • Seemingly, Globe confirmed my speculations, overlapping territorial boundaries and cross communication from different telcom signals in the sky.

    • You don’t need to own satellite for transmission. Transmission can be rented or leased from Satellite operators.

      What puzzled me here is why Globe sent the message if it is roaming. It should be the hosted network abroad like China Mobile.

  10. It is because Globe network supplier is Huawei, A Chinese Telecom company controlled by Chinese Government. The same Telecom company is banned in the US and Australia.

  11. take a break…interested to watch a one-man guy Jelani Eddington playing the Theme STAR WARS…a guy not shy of organs –

    https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=jelani+eddington+videos&vid=2a09cf4d5a7831d887bd2bb9b4f56dad&l=2%3A52&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DVN.608009722431213482%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DIeZxpITq08Q&tit=Sanfilippo+Wurlitzer+2&c=1&sigr=11ajutb9r&sigt=10md4tnn6&ct=p&age=0&&tt=b

    hope you get it. Check Youtube on Jelani Eddington.

  12. oh no……. This is message is from the roaming partner. Meaning China mobile is the roaming partner of Globe and Globe does not have a signal in that area but China mobile has. The message is not from Globe but from China mobile. You are putting Globe in bad light by putting in your title, “Passenger on plane to Ayungin Shoal got this message from Globe Telecom”

    • [email protected]

      Meaning that China Mobile has a “cell site” in Mischief Reef or a few kilometers from Ayungin Shoal, while the nearest cell site of globe is in Palawan or hundreds of kilometers from Ayungin Shoal.

      • It is because China mobile operates a cell site/relay stations/satellite whose signal can be received within Mischief Reef and other surrounding areas, while Globe doesn’t. This is can also happen to Smart subscribers, assuming Smart has no network coverage within the area but has a roaming agreement with China mobile.

        True also for Singaporeans whose handsets/SIM are registered with Singtel, assuming Singtel has no network coverage in Mischief Reef but has roaming agreement with China mobile.

        It is most likely a business decision as to why Globe (and perhaps Smart) does not operate a satellite/ relay station/satellite to cover the area. On the other hand, China mobile (as a state-owned telco?) may have other considerations other than business/ profit…. relay of audio-video communication/infos/data sent by its marine vessels and agencies.

  13. Filipinos are too sensitives but they do not complain on what is in front of their eyes for decades.
    Ongpin, Binondo and Divisoria- area is called Chinatown since time immemorial!
    Why don’t historians and patriots file a petition to rename it Filipino-Chinese town or media refers to it with this name?

    Before someone starts crucifying me, I’m not Chinese. 100% pure Filipino blood, more than Defin Lee, Janet Lim, Rolito Go, Cedric Lee Dr Wilson Lim, David Tan, others and many Chinese nationals captured drug lords and money launderers reported lately in Philippines news for being involved with plunder, corruption of govt officials, tax evasion, criminal activities, smuggling causing sabotage and instability of Philippine laws and economy but no one including media has asked the question on their patriotic loyalty to the Philippines. Did I miss any other Chinese name with similar accusations or convictions?

    Is it just coincidence that almost all perpetrators have Chinese blood? Where does their pure nationalistic heart belong to, Philippines or China? Think about it!

    Is there a government intelligence agency gathering statistics on these? Even those so called leftist and nationalists have not put this agenda in the forefront to question the country loyalty of these kind of people.

    In San Francisco and every big cities of the world have “Chinatowns” but it is only in the Philippines that many so called well respected Filipino Chinese are involved in sabotaging the government with criminal activities on a grand scale disrupting the economy, culture and way of life of the people. Why?

    Just thinking loud based on data!

    “Too late the hero is common mistake”

    • The actual quote from Hong Lei from Rappler link above:

      “At the heart of the matter are the disputes between the two sides on the sovereignty over islands and reefs, and delimitation of maritime boundaries. Yet disputes such as these have already been excluded from arbitration procedures through a declaration made by China in 2006 pursuant to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Hong said.”