IRENE SINO-CRUZ
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. sees further increase of its subscriber base as it continues to further enhance the capability of its domestic backbone and international connectivity.
Jay-Anne Encarnado, Vice President for Corporate Communications and Public Relations Director, noted that in the Philippines, only Converge provides end-to-end pure fiber network.
Encarnado was conducting a briefing on updates during the press conference conducted following the opening of the company’s Cebu City Business Center.
Ms. Encarnado noted that the company provides fiber optic service through its international submarine cable and domestic backbone.
“And when it goes to your house it’s still fiber. And fiber still is the latest technology when it comes to bringing data,” Ms. Encarnado said.
Since 90 percent of data comes from outside the Philippines, Converge is investing in international network. “We now have a fully redundant international network. We are adding two more international cable system, the first additional international cable system connects Singapore to Indonesia and to Davao. This will be onstream by 2024,” she added.
Keppel Telecommunications & Transportation’s (Keppel T&T) and Converge had signed agreements that provide for the grant of an Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) for one fiber pair on the main trunk of the Bifrost Cable System. There will be two landing areas for said system – one in Davao and the other in La Union.
“We’re glad to be in partnership with Converge to grow the business in Cebu. With Converge and JFiber working together, we will be able to address the concerns of our growing customer base faster and more efficiently. We’ll also be able to provide local employment opportunities for Cebuanos. Today, as much as 400 employees and their families are being supported by the operations. We’re determined to make Converge the number one ISP,” said Jonathan Uy, CEO of JFiber.
Converge earlier disclosed the company will invest over US$100 million (around P5 billion) for the whole project.
During the first seven months of 2022, Converge has laid out more than 600,000 fiber ports in central and southern Philippines, a rapid expansion of its footprint in the Visayas and Mindanao.
This nearly doubled its fiber footprint in Visayas and Mindanao regions in less than a year. The company had rolled out 300,000 ports as of the end of last year.
Converge and its marketing services provider, JFiber Internet Services Corp., opened the new Cebu City Business Center, which is located in One Central Mall, Cebu City.
Its partnership with JFiber, owned by Cebuano businessman Justin Uy, is in tandem with the company’s Go Deep Strategy, to strengthen operations in Cebu.
“Dennis Anthony Uy would always say, internet access should not be a privilege of a few, but a right of every Filipino. We share the vision of Dennis and Grace Uy to provide Filipinos and in our case, Cebuanos, with world-class, pure end-to-end fiber internet connectivity. Over the period of one year, we at JFiber have grown to around 400 employees, creating jobs in parts of Metro Cebu. This is proof that we are committed to support the growing network of Converge in the province,” said JFiber Chairman Justin Uy.
According to Uy, they decided to diversify again into the internet business. “Converge has proven to be the business of the future. Our lives are continually transformed by digitalization,” he said.
Justin further noted that he shares the same vision with Converge chief executive officer Dennis Anthony Uy, who would always say that Internet access should not just be a privilege for a few but the right of every Filipino.
As the economy opens, Converge also sees much opportunity in the SME Enterprise segment which increased by 26 percent during the first six months of 2022.
Converge Regional General Manager for the Visayas and Mindanao Michael Maquiran adds that the new business center would facilitate different transactions and services to address customer-related concerns, especially as restrictions have eased and more and more Filipinos are venturing out of their homes.
“The launching of our business center here is just one of our many initiatives in providing a premium customer experience to our subscribers. Through this new facility, Converge is assuring its customers in Cebu that they can easily reach out to us to support their expanding internet requirements beyond the digital channels that we have,” said Maquiran.
In fact, Converge considers Visayas and Mindanao as a vital growth area having accounted for nearly 20 percent of the total gross subscribers added in the second quarter of 2022.
The company has over 560,000 kilometers of fiber assets and a network as of end June 2022. It passes more than 13.5 million homes while its nationwide household coverage is now at 52 percent. The company is on track of its target to reach 55 percent of all households by 2023.
Converge Head of Sales for Consumer, SME and Emerging Channels, Ariel Concejero said: “We are very glad that Converge is in the care of Justin and Jonathan, who are both homegrown with well established businesses in Cebu. We are sure that under their leadership, Converge will reach new heights in the market.”
“It is the vision of our good mayor Michael Rama to make Cebu like Singapore. How will this happen? Cebu city needs to be a smart city, and one of the foundations of that is having reliable and fast internet. We are hoping for a strong partnership with Converge and JFiber especially in our aim to become a smart city,” said Cebu City Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia who graced the business center opening.
Converge recently bagged major connectivity contracts in Visayas, helping boost the local tourism economy’s transition to digital. Major hotels such as JPark Island Resort and Waterpark, Sarrosa Hotel, and Bai Hotel – all in Cebu – are now fiber-powered by Converge.
The Cebu City Business Center is the second one established in Cebu, after the first one located at Oakridge IT Center Tower Two, Oakridge Business Park, A.S. Fortuna, Mandaue City.
