INTERNET services provider Converge ICT Solutions is positioning Cebu as its hub for the Visayas and Mindanao.
The listed firm said its fiber optic cables that extends to Mindanao through San Remigio, Cebu in April 2021.
Cebu’s other landing points are in Bogo and Naga City.
This aggressive fiber optic rollout, according to Jesus Romero, Converge’s chief operating officer, will allow them to improve the internet connection of key cities in the Visayas and Mindanao, particularly those unserved and underserved areas by the two competitors.
“This is all part of the broader ‘Go National’ strategy which is essentially our nationwide expansion plan. With Converge’s fiber optic cables having already landed in Cebu in April 2021, and with three landing points in the island--in San Remigio, Bogo and Naga--our domestic fiber backbone is firmed up and ready to take on the pent-up demand for fiber connection in central Philippines,” said Converge chief operating officer Jesus Romero.
Romero added that by the time the infra build up is fully completed, Cebu will have the newest and most advanced technology backbone in the Philippines.
“The overarching goal is for Cebu and the Visayas and Mindanao to have the same quality of service as first world countries as Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea,” he said.
Since Converge’s soft launch in Cebu in November 2020, it has already covered more than 440,000 households, spanning 48 cities and municipalities, and more than a thousand barangays.
For 2021, it is targeting to deploy at least 250,000 fiber ports in the Visayas.
To officially mark its entry to Cebu and the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao, Converge opened its regional corporate office at the Oakridge IT Center Tower 2, Oakridge Business Park in Mandaue City on Monday, June 7, 2021.
In the next few weeks, Converge is also set to open its business center in Cebu City, as well as begin serving the consumers of Talisay, Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City.
Data Center in Mandaue
Converge founder and chief executive officer Dennis Anthony Uy said Cebu has always been on the radar of the company’s nationwide expansion plans.
He said it is because of the country’s archipelagic nature that poses a challenge in the speedy fiber optic rollout. But the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic to work, leisure and education has triggered the company to pursue aggressively its plan for the Visayas and Mindanao corridors.
According to Uy, his company is putting in “multi-billion pesos” in investments for Visayas and Mindanao.
The company has spent P6 billion domestic submarine cable project. It landed its cables in the Visayas through San Remigio in Cebu province. The fiber internet company is also linking the other islands in the Visayas region such as Panay, Negros, Leyte, and Bohol to its national backbone.
Uy also announced that he will be putting up a billion peso Data Center in Mandaue City that will initially have 300 racks to cater to the demand.
“We have already bought a property in Mandaue and we hope to build it (data center) this year,” he said.
Alternative, affordable option
Meanwhile, Grace Uy, co-founder and president, said Cebu’s expansion is a dream come true for the Pampanga-based fiber internet company.
“We are here to stay and we are here to offer you a better alternative,” she said.
Uy expects a surge in subscription in Cebu as more customers look for better, reliable and faster internet connection.
“This strong subscriber take-up is promising, and we expect a groundswell in subscriptions as we target commercial operations in the other areas in the next two months,” she said.
Convergy’s entry-level internet subscription is pegged at P1,500 with 35 Mbps with no data cap. The firm also offers various internet service packages for enterprises. (KOC)