Cebu strengthens fiber-neutral  infra in vertical developments

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu’s push to strengthen its digital infrastructure is gaining momentum as technology firms expand fiber-optic connectivity in vertical developments, seeking to meet rising demand from businesses and households for faster and more resilient internet services.

The partnership between Cebu Cable Internet and TechBridge will deploy a fiber-neutral hosting model that allows multiple internet service providers to use shared fiber infrastructure inside participating properties.

The initiative comes as internet connectivity becomes increasingly critical to Cebu’s economy, supporting cloud computing, remote work, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things applications, smart-city projects and digital government services.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has been pushing to treat internet access as a basic utility as the country accelerates its digital transformation.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data released in July 2025 showed that 48.8 percent of Philippine households, or 13.56 million, had internet access at home in 2024, up sharply from 17.7 percent in 2019.

Under the Cebu partnership, TechBridge will build and maintain carrier-neutral fiber infrastructure within participating properties, allowing internet service providers to use the network to connect their subscribers.

TechBridge President Adrian Yau Santos likened the model to a highway, with the company providing the underlying infrastructure while service providers use it to reach customers.

The model is already being rolled out in condominium developments in Cebu and Mandaue cities, with additional properties expected to join in the coming months.

TechBridge is targeting more than 8,000 vertical properties nationwide that still lack fiber-optic infrastructure, Santos said. The company currently operates in Metro Manila, Tagaytay and Cebu and plans to expand into Iloilo, Pampanga and other markets.

For Cebu Cable Internet President and Chief Executive Officer Goering Paderanga Jr., the partnership opens access to vertical developments where infrastructure constraints have historically limited the entry of additional service providers.

Cebu Cable Internet, which traditionally focused on residential customers, has expanded into business-process management firms, technology companies, condominiums and other enterprises. Its network covers much of Cebu, while its Steadfast brand focuses on fiber internet.

“Digital connectivity is no longer simply about having internet access. It is becoming fundamental to how businesses operate, how government delivers services and how communities participate in the economy,” Paderanga said.

He said the partnership will support growing demand for cloud computing, remote work, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, smart-city initiatives and digital government services.

The companies said the shared infrastructure model is designed to make Cebu’s connectivity ecosystem more scalable and resilient, while allowing service providers to reach more customers without having to build separate fiber networks inside every property.

For Cebu, where vertical developments are becoming an increasingly important part of the urban economy, the expansion of neutral fiber infrastructure could help address one of the key constraints to further digital adoption— reliable connectivity where people live and work.