IN ITS bid to improve broadband connectivity service, Innove Communications Inc. (Innove) has earmarked some $90 million to $100 million beginning this year.
“We will be spending more money in broadband service to as much as $200 million next year,” said Gil Genio, Innove Communications chief executive officer.
Genio announced that Innove, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecommunications, is determined to expand its network to meet the growing demand for consumer landline and broadband services in the country’s key cities.
The network rollout is for Innove’s consumer brand, Globelines.
Genio said, though, that he cannot quantify as to how much will be allocated for Cebu.
Genio said the network expansion is Globe’s answer to improve broadband connectivity, especially to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that require high speed connection for their businesses.
“We want to double our current speed. Speed is going to bump up hopefully every month,” he said.
In an interview with reporters during the Cebu Information Communications Technoloy (ICT) 2007 International Conference and Exhibition last week, Genio admitted that ICT usage among SMEs still remains low due to insufficient information on the benefits and relevance of the technology.
As a result, many SMEs maintain poor communications facilities, are unwilling to spend more on Internet access and do not have ICT-capable managers and staff, he said.
This is why Globelines’ “crucial role” is to improve its own service for SMEs to increase productivity, manage costs, serve customers better and open new markets, he added.
He said SMEs, which serve as the backbone of the Philippine economy comprising about 70 percent of private businesses, face resource and time constraints.
To address this, Genio said Globe and Innove continue to innovate products and offer special bundle packages designed to answer the ICT needs of the sector.
“Perpetually evolving technology lies in the heart of our business, so we are committed to continuously empower the SMEs with products and services that will give them the confidence to engage where it matters the most,” Genio said earlier.
In his presentation at the ICT Congress, Genio also stressed the role of telecommunications in positioning Cebu and the entire Philippines as the emerging information technology (IT) hub in Asia.
“Our attractiveness and competitiveness is also measured by our receptiveness to broadband,” he told the panel.
He said that at present, the Philippines lags behind India but has an edge over other countries in terms of broadband penetration and usage. (MMM)
