Globe rolls out free broadband fiber upgrade
Globe Telecom Inc. is rolling out free broadband fiber upgrades nationwide for customers to enjoy better data experience......»»
PLDT out to fortify broadband dominance
Who says the broadband market is saturated?.....»»
‘Government broadband program key to digital push’
An international think tank has lauded the administration’s Broadband ng Masa Program, saying it is a critical component of efforts toward digital transformation and inclusivity, but warned there needs to be a greater push for improvement......»»
So long to Sky Cable
News is out that Sky Cable will sign off by month’s end, making it the second major broadcast carrier and communications conglomerate to write 30 in as many months, after CNN Philippines last January. PLDT’s purchase of the cable provider has finally been approved by the concerned agencies, so Sky pay TV will transition to Cignal while still retaining its broadband service......»»
As door closes for Sky, window opens for Converge
Is cable TV in the Philippines dead? Broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. thinks otherwise, as it plans to even expand its presence in the pay TV segment with the impending shutdown of a major player......»»
PLDT to offer gigabit speed broadband
“What we are doing is the equivalent of the transition to 5G from 4G in mobile communication. We are pushing the boundary in internet access in the Philippines, giving the Filipino consumer a taste of first-world connectivity.”.....»»
Converge tops broadband speed in 2023
Broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. snapped the five-year streak of PLDT Inc. as the operator to beat in the Philippines as it claimed the top spot in 2023 for turning in the fastest internet speed......»»
PLDT buys 35% of Meralco unit
Telco giant PLDT Inc. is showing no signs of slowing down its broadband expansion, this time investing P2.12 billion to acquire more than a third of shares in a sister subsidiary......»»
Philippines urged to improve broadband infrastructure
The Philippines will need to pursue and implement reforms aimed at encouraging competition and investments to improve its broadband infrastructure, according to a World Bank study......»»
ABS-CBN clarified PCC has not completed its review of broadband business sale to PLDT
ABS-CBN clarified that the Philippine Competition Commission has not completed its review of the proposed P6.8 billion sale of Sky Cable’s broadband business to PLDT......»»
Converge allots P5 billion for data centers
Broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. will allocate up to P5 billion for the delivery of data centers in the next three years to house its planned digital platforms......»»
Converge to build first AI contact center in Philippines
Broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is set to build one of the first contact centers in the Philippines powered by generative artificial intelligence......»»
Broadband provider grows income as customer base expands
Broadband provider grows income as customer base expands.....»»
Now Corp to offer satellite internet
Tech provider Now Corp. has signed a partnership with Arizona-based Mangata Networks Inc. to introduce another broadband from space product for enterprises in the Philippines......»»
Sy-led Data Lake, Starlink ink partnerhip
Businessman Henry Sy Jr.-led Data Lake Inc. and Starlink of US billionaire Elon Musk deepened their partnership with the signing of a global retailer agreement for the distribution of the latter’s satellite kits that allow consumers wider access to high-speed broadband internet......»»
Amazon launches test satellites in challenge to Musk’s Starlink
Amazon launched two satellites on Friday as part of its plan to deliver the internet from space and compete with Elon Musk's Starlink service. The Atlas V rocket carrying the satellites lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 2:06 pm local time (6:06 pm GMT). The launch was carried out by the United Launch Alliance (ULA) industrial group, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Once up and running, the company founded by Jeff Bezos says its Project Kuiper will provide "fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world," with a constellation of more than 3,200 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). "We've done extensive testing here in our lab and have a high degree of confidence in our satellite design, but there's no substitute for on-orbit testing," said Rajeev Badyal, Project Kuiper's vice president of technology. The company has said it would invest $10 billion in the project and has booked 77 heavy-lift launches with commercial providers Arianespace, ULA, and Bezos-owned Blue Origin. The first operational satellites of the Kuiper project are due to be launched in early 2024, according to Amazon, which hopes for initial tests with customers at the end of next year. The test on Friday attempted to establish contact between the probes and Earth, deploy their solar panels, and confirm that all instruments are operating correctly and at the desired temperatures. The two prototypes will then be removed from orbit and disintegrated in the Earth's atmosphere at the end of the test mission. These services are designed to provide internet access to even the most remote and underserved areas around the world, including war zones or disaster-struck areas. Musk's SpaceX launched the first batch of its more than 3,700 operational Starlink satellites in 2019 and is by far the biggest player. Musk's ownership of Starlink caused uproar in Ukraine last month when it was revealed that he refused to turn on the service for a planned attack by Kyiv forces on Russia's Black Sea navy fleet last year. London-headquartered OneWeb is another early entrant in the emerging sector. Given the technology's strategic importance, governments are also keen to join the rush into the sector. China plans to launch 13,000 satellites as part of its GuoWang constellation, while Canada's Telesat will add 300 and German start-up Rivada is eyeing 600. That will be in addition to the European Union's Iris project -- 170 satellites -- and the 300-500 satellites planned to be launched by the US military's Space Development Agency. The post Amazon launches test satellites in challenge to Musk’s Starlink appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bet on low-cost fiber pays off for Converge
Broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has touched the two million subscriber count in the residential segment and expects to further expand its customer base with its retail products performing well......»»
US slaps TV provider with first-ever space debris fine
US authorities said they have issued a "breakthrough" first-ever fine over space debris, slapping a $150,000 penalty on a TV company that failed to properly dispose of a satellite. On Monday the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) came down on Dish for "failure to properly deorbit" a satellite called EchoStar-7, in orbit since 2002. "This marks a first in space debris enforcement by the Commission, which has stepped up its satellite policy efforts," the FCC, which authorizes space-based telecom services, said in a statement. As the geostationary satellite came to the end of its operational life, Dish had moved it to an altitude lower than the two parties had agreed on, where it "could pose orbital debris concerns," the FCC said. The commission said Dish, a US satellite television provider, pledged in 2012 to elevate the satellite to 300 kilometers (190 miles) above its operational arc. But with fuel running low, it retired the satellite at an altitude just over 120 kilometers above the original arc. "As satellite operations become more prevalent and the space economy accelerates, we must be certain that operators comply with their commitments," said FCC enforcement bureau chief Loyaan Egal. "This is a breakthrough settlement, making very clear the FCC has strong enforcement authority and capability to enforce its vitally important space debris rules." The FCC said the settlement "includes an admission of liability from the company and an agreement to adhere to a compliance plan and pay a penalty of $150,000." In a statement Tuesday, Dish appeared to counter the FCC over disposal requirements, and argued that the commission's enforcement arm made "no specific findings that EchoStar-7 poses any orbital debris safety concerns." "As the Enforcement Bureau recognizes in the settlement, the EchoStar-7 satellite was an older spacecraft that had been explicitly exempted from the FCC's rule requiring a minimum disposal orbit," a Dish spokesperson said in a statement. "DISH has a long track record of safely flying a large satellite fleet and takes seriously its responsibilities as an FCC licensee." Collision risks The US aviation regulator, FAA, recently announced its intention to reduce space debris by requiring private companies to dispose of the upper stages of rocket launch vehicles by, for example, returning them to the Earth's atmosphere or moving them to a less congested "graveyard orbit." The new regulation, which has yet to be definitively adopted, already exists for government space missions. "If left unchecked, the accumulation of orbital debris will increase the risk of collisions and clutter orbits used for human spaceflight and for satellites," the Federal Aviation Administration said. The European Space Agency estimates that around one million pieces of debris larger than a centimeter -- big enough to "disable a spacecraft" -- are in Earth's orbit. They are already causing problems, from a near-miss in January last year involving a Chinese satellite, to a five-millimetre hole knocked into a robotic arm on the International Space Station in 2021. With satellites now crucial for GPS, broadband and banking data, collisions pose significant risks on Earth. The post US slaps TV provider with first-ever space debris fine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Converge’s 2-M reach mirrors strong demand for cheap internet plans
Converge ICT Solutions Inc.'s low-cost plans have reached more than two million homes, which signifies the strong mass market demand for efficient and affordable internet services. Converge CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony Uy said on Monday that the company will beef up its product portfolio to better serve customers from different income groups. “We are proud to mark this milestone in our mission to leave no one behind as we empower Filipinos with world-class fiber connectivity. This is a result of our effort to expand growth opportunities through providing more affordable connectivity solutions,” Uy said. Converge finished the first half of the year with a total of 1.97 million residential subscribers, including 1.92 million postpaid and 54,000 prepaid customers. It gained over 92,000 net additional subscribers from January to June. Citing internal data, Converge said August has been its best-performing month in terms of sales. As such, analysts expect an upsurge in sales in the second half of the year. “We are encouraged by the continued growth of our residential subscriber base in the first half of 2023. This is further proof of the superiority of our broadband product, coupled with our people’s laser focus on meeting customers’ needs,” said Converge COO Jesus C. Romero. Converge has launched a prepaid product called Surf2Sawa or S2S, which is gaining traction among budget-conscious customers. The market's positive reception of the product was reflected in the 77 percent growth, with over 25,000 net additions in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter. Its postpaid subscribers sustained its steady growth as the newly-introduced low-cost postpaid plan BIDA Fiber complemented the company’s core product, FiberX, which starts at P1,500 a month with a speed of 200 Mbps. Meanwhile, BIDA Fiber costs P888 per month with a speed of 35 Mbps to connect a maximum of six devices. All three products (FiberX, BIDA, and S2S) offer unlimited data consumption. Converge presently operates the biggest fiber-to-the-home network in the country with more than 7.8 million ports nationwide, as of the first half of the year, as well as one of the country's most extensive cable systems with 670,000-kilometer fiber backbone. As of the end of June 2023, its network infrastructure has passed over 16.6 million Filipino homes, equivalent to 62.3 percent of household coverage nationwide. The post Converge’s 2-M reach mirrors strong demand for cheap internet plans appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DepEd will get 25% of 2024 budget
The Department of Education will receive 24.93 percent of the P38.75 billion in the proposed 2024 budget for digitalization funds to boost public service, the Department of Budget and Management said on Wednesday. In a statement, DBM said DepEd is set to receive P9.43 billion in digitalization funds amid the controversial P150 million confidential and intelligence funds for the said agency next year. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman underscored the need to embrace digitalization as the allocation for said initiative marks a 60.6-percent increase from its P24.93 billion funding in 2023. "Technological advancement has given rise to a growing digital economy which continues to create new forms of work, transforming the employment landscape," Pangandaman said. "Hence, investing in the digitalization of the bureaucracy is crucial not only in enhancing its efficiency but also in generating quality jobs for Filipinos," she added. Pangandaman added that keeping updated on technology and maximizing its uses are in line with the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s whole-of-government approach to connect the entire bureaucracy digitally — not only to cut red tape but likewise to generate employment in the expanding digital economy. Aside from DepEd, several other government agencies will receive the ICT and digitalization budget. These agencies include the Department of Justice (P5.55 billion), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (P5.34 billion for ICT program-related expenditures), the Department of Finance (P3.15 billion), the Department of Interior and Local Government (P2.60 billion); and National Economic and Development Authority (P2.08 billion). The Judiciary (Supreme Court, Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals) will also receive P1.44 billion for its digitalization budget. The Department of National Defense (P1.12 billion), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (P913 million), and Other Executive Offices (P890 million) will also receive its share. Meanwhile, a total of P990.631 million will be allocated to the ICT Systems and Infostructure Development, Management, and Advisory Program of the DICT. Further, the National Government Data Center Infrastructure Program, which will get P1.67 billion, aims to reduce government spending by providing resources to government agencies either through colocation or cloud services. In addition, the DICT's National Government Portal, which will have an allocation of P302.86 million, is intended to further streamline public service by connecting all government departments to a single website. Another DICT program, the National Broadband Plan, will receive a budget of P1.50 billion to improve internet speed and allow affordability across the country. A separate P2.5 billion will fund the Free Wi-Fi Connectivity in Public Places and SUCs program, with a target of 50 broadband sites in 82 provinces. The post DepEd will get 25% of 2024 budget appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DITO passed 4th technical audit
DITO Telecommunity, a China-backed company that broke the industry duopoly of Globe and PLDT, has passed its fourth government-mandated technical audit that measures its compliance with network coverage and internet speed commitments. In a letter sent to DITO Telecommunity chief administrative officer Adel Tamano, the National Telecommunications Commission or NTC confirmed that it passed its fourth yearly technical audit. The independent audit is part of the conditions outlined in the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity or CPCN given to the company. The Independent Auditor’s Report of Factual Findings from the Conduct of Specified Procedures — Year 4 Committed Levels of Service dated 29 August submitted by R.G. Manabat & Co. to the NTC stated that DITO surpassed its target. As part of the issuance of its CPCN in July 2019, DITO Telecommunity needs to record 70.01 percent network reach with a minimum speed of 55 Mbps in the third year of its commitment period. Notably, the audit showed that DITO now covers 80.65 percent of national population coverage. Affordable Internet fulfilled Its minimum average broadband speed or MABS, meanwhile, clocked in at 74.97 Mbps for 4G and 639.32 Mbps for 5G for all sites with a combined MABS of 357.14 Mbps. “Despite all the challenges that we have faced, we continue to achieve our commitments to government and the Filipino people, to provide affordable world-class service and to serve the underserved. This is in support of the Marcos administration’s drive towards digitalization and Nation-building,” Tamano said. If DITO fails to fulfill its commitments on time, the government forfeits, in its favor, the P25.7 billion performance bond that DITO paid before construction activities. DITO has promised to cover 84 percent of the Philippines and offer a minimum average speed of at least 55 Mbps by the end of its commitment. DITO recently conveyed that unresolved interconnection issues with its rivals have been affecting its subscriber base expansion as well as its development of new products for users. The PCC affirmed DITO’s complaints last year over the alleged anti-competitive behavior of its rivals regarding their interconnection deals. PCC said it found “reasonable grounds to open a preliminary inquiry into the complaints filed by Dito Telecommunity against Globe Telecom and Smart Communications.” Under Executive Order 59 issued by late President Fidel V. Ramos in 1993, interconnection is a mandated and important component of the telco industry as it allows interoperability and exchange of calls, SMS, and other information from one network to another. The post DITO passed 4th technical audit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»