Converge ICT Solutions Inc. will expand its fiber connectivity coverage in the Bicol region this year to bring its port deployment in Southern Luzon to over 400,000 fiber ports by year-end.
“In line with our strategy to Go Deep in existing markets, we are rolling out nearly 200,000 fiber ports in the Bicol region this year. We want to maximize our first mover advantage as a fiber broadband provider in Bicol and expanding to the different provinces,” said Jesus C. Romero, Converge Chief Operations Officer.
The additional ports will be put up in Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, and Sorsogon.
Converge is setting ambitious targets for fiber penetration in Region 5, aiming to cover more than half of addressable households for the entire Bicol region.
“These coverage targets mean there will be high availability of fiber service in key markets like the cities of Legazpi and Naga, as well as in unserved and underserved areas, like the municipalities of Gubat in Sorsogon and Lupi in Camarines Norte,” added Romero.
Converge has landed its pure fiber domestic subsea backbone in three points in Bicol—Pasacao in Camarines Sur and in Masbate City, and Milagros in Masbate, completing the redundancy loop that starts in San Juan, Batangas and passes through Roxas—Mindoro, Boracay, Roxas- Iloilo and ends in Milagros, Masbate.
“Given the importance of the Bicol region to our business, we are strengthening the customer-facing services, as well as the network infrastructure, to shore up the Converge brand in this southern Luzon region,” said Romero.
Also, Converge has opened its newest business center in Legazpi City. The newest facility, located in 312 Penaranda Extension, Barangay Bonot, will also be the regional head office for the company.
Earlier, it established business centers in the cities of Naga, Daet, Iriga, and Sorsogon. Every Converge business center offers sales, payment, and after-sales services, plus a self-service payment kiosk to limit contact.
To date, Converge has over 500,000 kilometers of total fiber assets serving 1.8 million subscribers nationwide. Its network has reached more than 12 million homes as of the first quarter of the year, with a household coverage of 47 percent.
This year, the company continues to be in expansion mode with its fiber network being extended to more cities and municipalities in Visayas and Mindanao.