"We are offering it at 2G pricing levels to break the perception that 3G is expensive," said Ferdinand Dela Cruz, Globe's head for wireless business.
Globe said pricing rates for its existing voice calls will be applied to video calls using 3G. Internet browsing, whether through mobile phones or 3G-connected laptops, is priced at 15 centavos per kilobyte.
Streaming video content, meanwhile, will be priced at P5 (US$0.09) per minute. Aside from content from major local television networks ABS-CBN and GMA-7, Globe said it will also offer content coming from abroad such as news feeds from CNN.
These rates will apply for the first month after which, Globe will introduce "more pricing options after May 30," Dela Cruz added.
The 3G service is available for both Globe prepaid and postpaid subscribers. 3G roaming will also be available to postpaid subscribers for outbound calls from Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Globe said its service is at least five times faster that the "basic" 3G service because of HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology that allows for faster data transfer. For Internet browsing, Globe said HSDPA allows surfing speeds up to 25 times faster than dial-up.
Globe said it is among less than 20 mobile operators worldwide to have introduced HDSPA technology. The mobile operator is investing $100 million in the initial phase of its 3G rollout.
"It is still too early to say how many phases ' but expansion will take place within the next five years," said Globe president and CEO Gerardo Ablaza Jr., adding that the company's 2G expansion has already reached at least 12 phases.
Rival Smart Communications launched its commercial 3G services on May 1. Meanwhile, Globe first introduced its 3G HSDPA services last March to corporate customers under its "Visibility" brand.