ICT firm gets BOI perks

MANILA, Philippines - The P890-million wired and wireless broadband network project of local firm Converge Information and Communication Technology Solutions, Inc. (CICTSI) will be incentives from the government, the Board of Investments (BOI) said.

“The BOI approved last week the P890 million project of Philippine firm CICTSI which will support the government’s efforts in upgrading its telecommunications infrastructure,” it said in a statement.

With the BOI’s approval of the registration of the project, CICTSI can get incentives such as income tax holidays and other perks.

The project will use Gigabit Passive Optic Network, a technology used for installing, operating, and maintaining nationwide wired and wireless broadband network.

The project will involve establishing a wired (fiber optic) and wireless data communication network throughout the country to bring high speed broadband internet service to local businesses and households.

At present, the country’s telecommunications network is capable of handling data volume transmitted at 250 gigabits per second.

The BOI said the project would be implemented in three phases with the first phase to cover the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Olongapo, Clark, Tarlac, and Pampanga.

The first phase is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The second and third phases, which would cover other areas of the country, would be implemented within the next three to five years.

CICTSI intends to employ about 278 workers for the project.

It also wants its subscriber base to reach around 40,000 in five years.