Listed fiber provider Converge ICT Solutions is set to enter the Visayas and Mindanao markets, as it has completed connecting the island groups to its P6-billion submarine cable project.

In a statement on Thursday, April 29, Converge said Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao is now connected to its national fiber backbone with the landing of submarine cables on Wednesday, April 28.

The Visayas, meanwhile, was connected through the town of San Remigio in Cebu province. Soon, Panay, Negros, Leyte, and Bohol will be linked to the national backbone.

“We are looking forward to firing up our fiber broadband services in the Visayas and Mindanao so that we can soon provide the unserved and underserved areas in central and southern Philippines with world-class internet connectivity,” said Converge chief executive officer Dennis Anthony Uy.

The fiber provider earlier said it plans to do a full commercial rollout in the Visayas and Mindanao by the 2nd quarter of 2021.

Converge chief operating officer Jesus Romero said they aim to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as large businesses in the Visayas and Mindanao with their fiber offerings.

Earlier, Converge launched Flexibiz and Time of Day, which allow SME and residential subscribers to have faster internet speeds depending on their preferred time.

In 2021, the fiber provider aims to spend P20 billion for capital expenditures, including expenses for fiber-to-the-home ports rollout to reach 35% of Philippine households and the costs for the construction of domestic subsea cables.

Converge aims to breach the 1.5-million-subscriber mark by the end of 2021. – Rappler.com