Innove awards $6-M rollout contract to Alcatel Philippines

Innove Communications, Inc. has awarded a $6-million contract to Alcatel Philippines for the major rollout of the broadband network of Globelines’ Innove’s brand for residential and business customers, in key locations within its service areas.

Alcatel provided its market-leading solutions equipment and services to Innove that allowed Globelines to expand its broadband network capacity by over 1,000 percent, adding thousands more ports in Makati, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro, Cebu, Negros, Panay, Bohol, Leyte and Samar.

Company officials said that with the expansion of Globelines‚ broadband network, fast and high speed Internet access is now available in all key locations within its service areas. Globelines Broadband was launched recently to provide quality Internet connection that is within reach of more consumers by offering more affordable rates.

They explained that Innove awarded the broadband rollout project to Alcatel as the company provided a cost-effective solution that fits its existing network infrastructure. Also, Alcatel’s broadband access solution is versatile that it would be easy for Innove to migrate to future network services.

Alcatel is recognized as the world leader in the supply of ADSL (assymetric digital subscriber line) broadband equipment, with its 38 percent global market share which is more than five times its nearest competitor. Innove’s corporate brand GlobeQUEST also has an existing broadband network that was supplied by Alcatel.

Innove chief executive officer Gil Genio said that as competition heats up in the country’s Internet market, Innove improves its competitive position by partnering with Alcatel in the major rollout of Globelines‚ broadband network.

He said the broadband network rollout is a very important project for Innove because with this, Globelines’ customers would be able to realize the full promise of the Internet, which is access to compelling content anytime and anywhere.

Genio also said the Internet is one of the drivers in today’s broadband revolution and by embarking on this project the Philippines’ infrastructure is further developed to be at par with the rest of the world.

"In the Philippine market, as well as in many other markets, broadband is not simply about faster, better or easier communications. I personally believe that faster, better and easier communications will fundamentally transform how businesses operate and also how each family or Filipino lead their lives on a daily basis," Genio said.

"We hope not only to be able to drive that revolution on how businesses, family and individuals change their lifestyles and how they do their businesses, but that this partnership with Alcatel is a milestone and in the future will yield tremendous fruit with respect to both our organizations as well as in the Philippines‚ broadband market," he added.

For his part, Alcatel Philippines president and country senior officer Jean-Claude Hue said "I am impressed by the professionalism and dynamism of the Innove team and moreover by its own company vision and its visions for the Philippines. We in Alcatel share the same vision. A vision that will not only work for both Innove and Alcatel, but more importantly, for the rest of this great country, which is at the cusp of renewed growth."

"I would like to thank Innove for the opportunity you gave us to participate in the implementation of this vision for the Philippines. We hope this is the start of a long cooperation between Alcatel and Innove. The broadband revolution has now entered the Philippines. There’s a lot to do and we will do it together," Hue added.

For his part, Innove residential and business group head Ramon Antonio Pineda said the challenge to offer broadband to all subscribers within Globelines’ service areas, as part of Innove’s thrust to help in nation building, led the company to embark on the ambitious rollout of 30,000 broadband ports in just three months.

"In my view, in the concept of revolution, this is just the beginning. We believe Internet access is just the start and there will be more opportunities to further increase the access, applications and other add-ons to that access." Pineda said.

Meanwhile, Innove network management head Ramon Aesquivel said a long-term partnership with Alcatel is expected as the wide broadband network coverage of Innove at present was entirely supplied by Alcatel’s solution.

"This project signals the entry of Innove into wide scale broadband network services. As consistently demonstrated and experienced in other well-developed countries, broadband services represent the sunshine business for fixed line operators. Globelines Broadband is Innove’s breakthrough business," Aesquivel said.

"More and more consumers are demanding high speed Internet access and Innove is in a very good position to provide this through its extensive network facilities and copper access. Innove’s expansion is designed to meet the residential and business broadband needs, which require wide network coverage,"Aesquivel added.

Globelines Broadband has presence in Metro Manila with about 40 percent of its total network deployed here. The bulk of its line provision is in Makati with extensive coverage in Marikina, Pasig, Mandaluyong and San Juan as well.

Globelines Broadband is also in Cavite and Batangas with 25 percent of its total network deployed here and about 30 percent deployed in the Visayas region, covering the islands of Cebu, Negros, Panay, Leyte, Samar and Bohol. Cebu has the bulk of the lines in Visayas but the rest of the region has enough lines to meet the expected demand.