CHAPTER 1

Introduction and Review of Related Literature

Background of the Study

Technology has given us many things, things which made the people
living in this era changed mostly for the better. We see technology today as a common thing that
we took for granted but ideas which others considered unreal in the past now it is made possible
new technologies are being invented prototypes being tested and many more. Technology gave
as allot that it almost governed our lives.

Technology and Communication somehow is connected with each

other. (Karehka Ramey(2013)).Using technology in communication has become a necessity; its
now part of our lives. People communicate through emails, faxes, Mobile phones, texting
services, video conferences, video chart-rooms and social media channels. As time goes on, more
emerging technologies will change the way we communicate and it will be up to us to embrace
them or not. Also according to Foruzon & fegan (2004) when we communicate, we are sharing
information. This sharing can be local or remote. Between individuals, local communication
usually occurs face to face, while remote communication takes place over a distance.
Today Mobile phones and the Networks which help phones to
communicate are really important in our lives, because of these Cellular networks our phones
can communicate. We people dont actually know how they work and the things which help them
work. According to Larry Gross(2002) Wireless portable cellular phones are one of the biggest
hits of the post divestiture period. Although wireless phones existed as far back as the 1920s

they were cumbersome and expensive and did not catch on general public. Today Cell phones are
can be easily bought by the public, in-fact in 2012 there are about 103 million Filipinos who are
using cell phones from an article in Wikipedia.

So what is a cellular network? According to Wikipedia, cellular

network or mobile network is a wireless network distributed over land areas called cells, each
served by at least one fixed-location transceiver, known as a cell site or base station. In a cellular
network, each cell uses a different set of frequencies from neighboring cells, to avoid
interference and provide guaranteed bandwidth within each cell. Major telecommunications
providers have deployed voice and data cellular networks over most of the inhabited land area of
the Earth. This allows mobile phones and mobile computing devices to be connected to
the public switched telephone network and public Internet.

There are a few Telecommunication companies in the Philippines, and the 2

biggest companies are the Globe Telecom and PLDT which are the owners of the common
networks we have in our Mobile phones, Telephones and even internet. In the past years these
two companies battled each other for supremacy according to an article on Rappler. These 2
companies provide us with the needs to communicate at long distances usually on mobile
phones.

As student of La Salle University Ozamiz, Mobile phones are a

necessity, not only on communication but cell phones today are more high-tech and almost acts

as a Mobile computer for us students and we can do many things. The Researchers would like to
know the preferred networks of the LSU students and the factors affecting the students network
choice.

Review of related Literature

A mobile phone network provides the technology that allows your
mobile phone to work. Your mobile phone needs a SIM card, a small microchip which contains
all the information that makes your phone work. This SIM card is linked to a mobile phone
network and its the network that allows mobile phones to communicate with each other

Telecommunications in the Philippines

Modern telecommunications and information technology infrastructure

are vital to the economic growth of the Philippines, serving multifarious purposes in daily life
and enabling the rapid growth of the BPO sector, as well as enhancing the economys overall
efficiency. Land lines, mobile telephones, Internet, and various cable and satellite technologies
that carry voice and data connect Filipinos and foreigners alike, within the archipelago and
around the globe. (nd). Background Telecommunications. Retrieved date: January 26, 2015,
from
(http://www.investphilippines.info/arangkada/sevenwinners/infrastructure/telecommunications/background/),

According to Wikipedia, telecommunications in the Philippines is well-developed due

to the presence of modern infrastructure facilities. The industry was deregulated in 1995, leading
to the creation of many telecommunication service providers for mobile, fixed-line, Internet and
other services. Today Telecommunications is more abundant than before. In 2012 alone there
were 103 million people using mobile phones.

Mobile phones to a student

Take a look around the campus and youll likely see students with their
heads down, focused intently on their phones. Here are mostly the reasons on what is a mobile
phone to a student, according to an article How College Students Use Mobile Phones by Mykel
Nahorniak, retrieved date: January 26, 2015 from http://eduniverse.org/how-college-studentsuse-mobile-phones

As communication devices
Ask students walking by if theyve sent a text today and youll get a yes almost 100%

of the time.
As social media machines
As if students Facebook addictions werent bad enough when they were limited to the
computer, now they have portable social media devices in their pockets. Across the
board, students with smartphones use social media apps, including Facebook, Twitter, and
Tumblr.

As cameras
Cell phones arent just tiny extensions of students computerstheyre also cameras that
go everywhere. The convenience of having a camera built right in to the phone means
students are always grabbing pictures of whats going on.

When you choose a mobile phone provider youll need to think about how you use your

phone:
As time fillers and boredom killers
Gone are the days when students would pull out a book or newspaper while waiting for
the bus. Even when theres no pressing reason, students whip out their phones at any
spare moment.
In La Salle University Ozamiz fortunately we are allowed to bring our cell phones in

school but most of the teachers prefer cell phones to be turned off to prevent a disturbance in
class.

Mobile Networks matter

The coverage of your mobile phone network decides the strength of your phone
signal. Its important to make sure there is good coverage in your area before you sign a contract
that locks you into a particular network. Its particularly important if youre in the countryside, or
in rural areas where you might find your options are more limited because of poor network
coverage. Source: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/, retrieved date : Jan 25, 2015

Not only the Coverage is important but also when you choose a mobile phone provider
youll need to think about how you use your phone. This is important because youll need to find
a price plan that matches the way you use your phone. Source: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/,
retrieved date: Jan 25, 2015

Promos and Deals

(Jen Balboa, 2014) in a Manila Bulletin article said that Filipinos figure out the phones
on their own. A common purchasing trait by Filipinos, which they manifest as well when buying
phones, is their seeming preference to be left alone when choosing an item to purchase, and
reluctance to ask for assistance. This trait of ours leads many of us to use networks which are
prepaid. So what exactly is the difference between postpaid and prepaid?

Prepaid is the most convenient solution if you dont plan to make many phone calls.
Extremely cheap mobile cards (or sim cards) are available all across the country. You will also
need prepaid "loads", which are available for as low as PHP 10 . Retrieved
from:https://www.justlanded.com/english/Philippines/Philippines-Guide/TelephoneInternet/Mobile-phones , retrieved date : Jan 25, 2015

A post-paid mobile account is the best option if you use your phone for work or make many
calls. This kind of contract has a limited number of free minutes; text messages etc., and charges
the user a flat rate for any usage above that limit. The user is billed at the end of each month.
source . Retrieved from:https://www.justlanded.com/english/Philippines/PhilippinesGuide/Telephone-Internet/Mobile-phones , retrieved date : Jan 25, 2015

Conceptual Framework
Factors that affect a stundent
network choice

Preferred Networks of CEA

Freshmen Students

-Promos and Deals

Figure 1: Conceptual Framework

This conceptual framework shows the relationship between the
Preferred Network of CEA freshmen students and the factors that affect a students network
choice.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to identify the cellular networks preferred by

LSU students. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions.

1. What are the cellular networks preferred by LSU students?

2. What are the factors affecting students network choice?

Significance of the study

this study will be significant to the following persons and

organizations

LSU students

this study will be significant to the LSU students because the wpuld know
what is the best preferred network for them. Also they would know what networks are providing
them the best promos, plans and deals.

Other Cell phone users

This can benefit the other consumers because they would also know what the
LSU students would know regarding Cell phone Networks.

Future Researchers
This study will also benefit the future researchers who will deal with the topics
concerning telecommunication especially on mobile phones and Mobile Networks. They can
expand this idea and make an even more accurate, improved and more reliable results because
students would change every year.