MANILA, Philippines — Internet provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. continued to expand outside Luzon, doubling the number of fiber ports it installed in Visayas and Mindanao as of July.
Converge CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy said the firm has doubled its fiber ports to 600,000 in the Visayas and Mindanao in the seven months to July from 300,000 as part of efforts to improve the Internet quality and speed in the regions.
Uy said Converge hopes to widen its presence in Visayas and Mindanao given their contribution in its subscription base.
As of June, customers in Visayas and Mindanao make up around a fifth of the users served by Converge nationwide.
Converge chief operations officer Jesus Romero said the broadband provider is focusing on expanding its reach in Visayas and Mindanao for the year.
According to Romero, both of the regions remain to be underserved, providing Converge with a window for growth.
“For 2022, we have focused our efforts on expanding our presence in Visayas and Mindanao as these remain to be underserved and are untapped markets for us,” Romero said.
“There is still a lot of room to grow in these two regions, that’s why we have sped up the rollout of ports in Visayas and Mindanao cities, doubling down on reaching these eager customers,” Romero added.
As part of the focus in Visayas and Mindanao, Converge opened business centers in numerous locations in Cebu to complement the regional head office launched in Mandaue City last year.
Uy said Converge bagged multiple contracts in Cebu mostly to service the connectivity needs of tourism stakeholders in the province.
Converge provides fiber internet for, among others, Jpark Island Resort and Waterpark, Sarrosa International Hotel and Residential Suites, and Bai Hotel Cebu.
As the government lifts COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, Uy said Converge plans to bolster its presence among small and medium enterprises that are trying to recover their pandemic losses.
Among Converge’s customers, the segment recorded a 26 percent growth in the first semester.
The earnings of Converge increased by 22 percent to P3.95 billion as of June, attributed to the expansion projects it pursued mainly in far-flung areas.
On the other hand, revenues grew by 36 percent to P16.05 billion, with both the residential and enterprise segments posting double-digit growths.