I never really thought that I would still be around to see science fiction become reality. I thought it would happen beyond my lifetime. And yet, here we are in the midst of fully embracing artificial intelligence and Star Wars laser technology!
When I first watched the 1968 Stanley Kubrick movie 2001: A Space Odyssey (which to be honest I didn’t even really understand then because it was fiction- something made up), we were still just beginning to explore space.
To some, space travel and the Apollo 11 landing on the moon in 1969 was even supposed to be a hoax.
Computers were still colossal structures then and only used by governments and big corporations. By 1975, hobbyists started to use experimental machines that they, however, still had to assemble from a kit.
It was only by 1977 that Apple, among the pioneers, first started to sell pre-assembled computers.
The internet officially started in 1983.
Personal computers, thus, only became common in the 1980s, and started to become a household item in the 1990s, about the same time that portable laptops started to become mainstream, even surpassing desktop computers.
To connect to the internet through a desktop computer, however, a physical connection is still required using underground copper cable connections. Technology is evolving so rapidly that the system now uses the much faster fiber-optic cables.
However, technological evolution is happening much faster than expected.
In August 1977, the cult blockbuster Star Wars introduced “laser” sabers, turning into visual reality what we only knew as science fiction — of course the movies’ laser was just a special effect, but hey, laser technology is now reality! It is even used for medical purposes.
Telephones, in the 1960s, were mind boggling to me, being able to talk to somebody who was far away, Wow! But telephones were wired, heavy, clunky, black rotary dial things, requiring physical infrastructure to operate, and was something that had to be shared with a so-called “party line.”
Those born in the mid 1970s and beyond may still have seen them, but perhaps may not know how to use them.
Even the cellular phones, which became available to the general public only in the mid 1980s, were heavy and unwieldy, but were wireless.
Technological evolution, however, has also radically changed cell phones into what we now rely on as smart phones — part telephone and portable computers.
Smart phones and computers, no question, are now a necessary and almost indispensable part of our lives. But they likewise still rely on cell towers that need cables.
Major telecommunications giant, Globe, however, is stepping up its network innovation by adopting Free Space Optics (FSO), a cutting-edge laser technology that delivers fiber-like internet speeds without the need for cables.
According to the Ayala Corp. and Singapore-owned Singtel telco company, it has partnered through its shared services arm Fiber Infrastructure and Network Services Inc. (FINSI) with Singapore-based Transcelestial Technologies to roll out a new laser technology nationwide that will strengthen the company’s network transport and broadband capacity.
FSO, according to Globe, uses laser light beams to transmit data through the air, allowing Globe to build high-speed, reliable connections quickly, even in areas where laying fiber cables is difficult or time-consuming.
Cables, likewise, are vulnerable to damage. They can be cut.
Laser technology makes it ideal for a telecommunication company to expand its broadband and 5G-ready infrastructure across more communities.
Just this August, Globe and Transcelestial signed an agreement to accelerate the use of wireless laser communication across the Philippines. The partnership includes the deployment of Transcelestial’s Centauri laser devices for last-mile connectivity, mobile backhaul and event-based network requirements.
Globe is also exploring Transcelestial’s Legolas long-distance laser links, which can transmit data over distances of up to 15 kilometers, pending successful testing in 2026.
The technology, Globe said, has already proven its reliability in earlier pilots across the Visayas and Mindanao, and during large-scale events, such as at the Philippine Arena in 2024, where Transcelestial’s devices powered Globe’s cell site on wheels with seamless high-speed connectivity.
FSO is no longer just a test for Globe. It’s now part of its standard network infrastructure alongside fiber. “Free Space Optics is no longer a pilot for Globe. It is now one of our standard transport solutions,” said Gerhard Tan, senior director and head of technology strategy and innovations at Globe.
“By integrating Transcelestial’s technology into our regular network deployments, we can strengthen our mobile backhaul and deliver high-speed internet to more Filipinos, faster,” he added.
With the use of FSO, Globe pointed out that there would be faster deployment of high-speed connections without major civil works. Multi-gigabit speeds, it said, would be similar to fiber.
Additionally, there would be flexible coverage for hard-to-reach or underserved sites.
Globe explained that by embedding this innovation into its network roadmap, it would continue to advance its commitment to digital inclusion, resilient infrastructure and next-generation services such as 5G, cloud applications and intelligent city solutions.
Globe Telecom Inc. is a leading digital platform in the Philippines with interests in telecommunications, fintech, venture building, shared services and digital marketing.
A UN Global Compact Participant, Globe is the first publicly listed Philippine firm with approved near- and long-term science-based targets under the SBTi. It was named one of TIME and Statista’s Most Sustainable Companies in 2025. Its back-to-back inclusion in the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 in 2024 and 2025 affirms its growth and leadership.
Its principals are Ayala Corp. and Singtel, prominent industry leaders in the region.