Converge ICT Provides Free Internet to PH Covid-19 Task Force

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Converge ICT augments the government’s response against COVID19 by providing the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) with fast end-to-end fiber internet connection. With this, the IATF has been managing their communication channels and data transmissions better, allowing them to work and disseminate important information to the Filipinos more efficiently.

“In this era of Covid-19, we are very happy that Converge ICT Solutions quickly responded to our need for a stable internet connection. We no longer experience any disconnection issues during our data transmissions and virtual meetings. We definitely now have a more efficient and smoother workflow to help more Filipinos in fighting this pandemic,” shares Usec Eliseo Rio Jr., Undersecretary DICT.

For the past five months, the IATF has been tracking and recording COVID-related statistics in order to create the National Action Plan. With two circuits of Converge ICT’s enterprise class fiber internet, the IATF is able to do uninterrupted coordination through VOIP, video conferencing, and other applications. 

Converge ICT’s Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Anthony H. Uy explained, “We understand and empathize the importance of the timely and fast dissemination of COVID-19 information for the government during this critical period. A stable and reliable internet connection is necessary for the success of our pandemic response and no agency needs it more than the IATF. Converge provided this support in order to help them fulfill their mandate to keep the public informed, healthy and safe.” 

This is one of the many ways on how Converge ICT responded in this unprecedented situation. Aside from giving more than a thousand units of personal protective equipment to Angeles City Hospital, Converge also wants to ensure that Filipinos will get the chance to enjoy fast connection with the best quality experience. 

For inquiries, you may visit www.convergeict.com

Converge ICT earmarks $250M investment to nationwide expansi

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Converge ICT, the country’s premier pure end to end fiber internet service provider, received a multi-million-dollar investment from Warburg Pincus, a private equity firm based in the United States.

Converge ICT has been aggressively expanding its fiber infrastructure with the aim of providing Filipinos access to the more reliable fiber internet connection. The $250 million or P12.8 billion investment will be earmarked on rolling out more fiber connections nationwide.

(L-R) Converge ICT COO Jesus C. Romero, Converge ICT President; CEO Dennis H. Anthony Uy, Maria Grace Y. Uy, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim, DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan, and Warburg Pincus LLC Managing Director Saurabh Agarwal

"Since going full throttle with our fiber network roll-out and package offerings, the change in overall Philippine performance has been noticeable," said Dennis Uy, founder and president, Converge ICT. "In 2018, the average connection has risen to 18Mbps. We don't take full credit but the company’s contributions have been undeniable."

This is the Warburg Pincus' first investment in the Philippines. One of the world's biggest equity firms has $20 billion invested in Asia and about $65 billion in assets under management.

"We are excited about the country’s young, digital-savvy population and its thriving services industries, which have created an outsized need for connectivity and will create explosive growth in the broadband space," said Saurabh Agarwal, managing director, Warburg Pincus. "Converge ICT is a remarkable business and growth story and I am confident that it will continue to achieve significant growth milestones and solve the ever-increasing connectivity needs of the country."

Converge ICT is looking at capturing 30% of the country's broadband market in the next few years. With this investment, Converge ICT will be able to fastrack the construction of its $1.8-billion nationwide internet backbone. The current rollout includes a $70-million domestic submarine cable with 20 landing stations across the Philippines. The Luzon backbone is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2020.

"Converge ICT is the only pure end-to-end fiber internet provider in the country with all-in house capabilities," said Uy. "We have been investing heavily on innovations that would move the broadband market forward so we can be on par with our neighbors. We have rolled out 400Gbps per channel in the past."

At present, Converge ICT is looking at doubling its half-a-million subscribers by next year. Seventy percent of the company's customer base are first-time fixed broadband service users and Uy plans to increase that with more expansions in the coming months.

"We are 100% committed to the long-term success of our partners Converge ICT and, more importantly, the success of the Filipino customers whom we serve, and their connectivity needs we seek to provide," said Agarwal.

The choice of Warburg Pincus to stream fresh funds to Converge ICT is due to the former's deep understanding of the business and expertise. Uy reiterated that it is not always about the money but making the Philippines more competitive in the world market by providing more reliable broadband service.

"To bring about real-life change and progress," Uy said. "That is our commitment to the Filipinos. To serve the under-served and unserved. Together, we will use technology to be what it has been set out to be. To make information more readily available, services faster, communities safer and life, in general, better. Convenience on-demand."

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