The investment will see expansions of existing networks in metro Manila, the island of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanoa – all part of the 7,000 islands that make of the Philippines.
“We have set our sights to bring the best internet connectivity by starting in Metro Manila and some key provinces in Luzon,” said Converge ICT president and CEO Dennis Uy.
“By going nationwide, we can do more rollouts and more installations in other islands in the Philippines, helping more people connect with one another through our infrastructure.”
The five-year rollout has the potential to reach more than 13 million of the 22 million households nationwide, particularly the major islands in the Visayas and Mindanao.
South Korean telco KT won the project to install a 1,570km fibre cable system, worth around $47 million, in the northern regions of the Philippines’ biggest island Luzon Island.
LSI-Fibernet will be tasked with the expansion of the network in Southern Luzon with a 2,700km fibre “digital highway”, 600km of fibre in Vsayas and 900km in Mindanao.
Converge has also shortlisted subsea cable firm TE Subcom to look after interconnectivity with subsea cable systems that will link the Philippines to both Hong Kong and the US.
“We are expecting the project to be completed from the beginning to the end in 18 months,” said TE Connectivity managing director Qian Zhoung to GMA News.
