Telecommunications company Eastern Communications has completed its nationwide expansion plans for the year after participating in the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) project, the longest undersea fiber cable network in the Philippines in collaboration with Globe and InfiniVan Inc.
The project’s 2022 legs were recently wrapped up at Savoy Hotel, Boracay, and was graced by Aklan provincial administrator Selwyn Ibarreta, Malay mayor Frolibar Bautista, Yapak barangay captain Hector Aguirre Casidsid, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) director Imelda Walcien, Board of Investments (BOI) governor Marjorie Ramos-Samaniego, BOI director for legal and compliance service, Ellyjean DC Portoza, and Wesley van der Voort, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) – Boracay chapter.
The $150-million PDSCN project aims to improve both mobile and broadband connectivity through fiber Internet in previously unserved areas across the country. This also supports the goal of the current administration to convert the Philippines into a more digitally-advanced nation through innovation, e-governance, and increased digital adoption among Filipinos.
Local government officials of Aklan and Malay lauded Eastern and its partners for embarking on this ambitious, expansive, and historic project which will link the nation’s archipelagic islands.
“We are looking forward towards improved internet connectivity in the province hopefully by next year when these cables are fully activated. I am confident that today’s event signals an increased participation of your partnership in our goals to become a digital Aklan,” Ibaretta said.
With Boracay, recently recognized as the “Top Island in Asia,” and the “Eight Greatest Place in the World,” Malay mayor Bautista thanked the three big telco partners, as the PDSCN will help bring in more tourists, especially those who do stay-cations and work-cations, with the improved and reinforced internet connectivity.
“We wish to bring quality service to the business communities to help tourism emerge from the recent pandemic. Hopefully this will further fortify and cement Boracay as the destination of choice,” Delfin Lopez, Eastern Communications head of network planning, engineering and implementation (NPEI) Division, said.
The project kickstarted last July 2022 in Subic, Zambales and has already landed in a total of 20 sites. After Boracay, the 2,500-kilometer submarine fiber cable network will be deployed to other areas including Camiguin, Camarines Sur, Surigao City, and Zamboanga in 2023.
“The Philippines is practically being visited by almost 20 tropical cyclones a year, and this is a force of nature that we cannot control but can only prepare for. This is one of the reasons for planning this project. So we can have a redundant submarine cable network and achieve a reliable medium of communication, especially in the time for preparations and management of disasters,” Lopez said.
Early this year, Eastern Communications intensified its expansion efforts that aim to help businesses emerge stronger from the pandemic. Through its “Via Eastern: Forging True Connections” campaign the telco held consecutive virtual launches in Bacolod City and Dumaguete City in Negros, Legazpi City, Naga City, and Sorsogon City in Bicol, as well as Panay.
As part of their plan of becoming a one-stop shop for all connectivity and ICT demands across the country, Eastern Communications said it will continue its expansion campaign “Via Eastern” by branching out to more locations in 2023.