Converge ICT Solutions chief executive and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy has renewed calls for more future-proof digital infrastructure in the Philippines, pointing to the Makati Central Estate Association’s underground conduit initiative as a model for reducing network disruptions and modernizing urban connectivity.
Uy made the remarks during a recent meeting with the Makati Central Estate Association Inc. (MaCEA), which spearheaded the MACEA Underground Conduit Network (MUCN) covering parts of the Makati Central Business District.
According to Uy, shared underground conduit systems provide a stronger structural backbone for telecommunications providers while minimizing repeated roadworks that typically disrupt business districts.
He said such infrastructure aligns with global best practices and supports long-term network reliability.
MaCEA general manager Getty E. Granada said the project establishes a shared underground pathway that reduces service interruptions caused by frequent excavation and repair works, while allowing building owners and tenants to choose from multiple service providers.
The system, he added, supports Makati’s push to be a smart and future-ready city.
Underground conduit systems are now standard in advanced economies such as Singapore, where burying power and telecom cables improves resilience and streamlines provisioning, maintenance, and upgrades.
Uy said Converge supports industry-wide initiatives that promote efficiency, citing the “Dig Once” policy institutionalized under the Konektadong Pinoy Act, which encourages coordinated infrastructure deployment among utilities and local governments.
He noted that underground systems protect cables better than aerial lines, reducing damage from accidents, weather, and third-party works — problems that often delay repairs due to permitting requirements.
Beyond network reliability, underground cabling also improves public safety, city aesthetics, and urban planning by freeing up overhead space and reducing visual clutter, Uy said.
He added that Converge is positioned to provide not only connectivity but also digital services that can help building owners and estate managers prepare for the next wave of smart-city and enterprise technologies.
The MACEA Underground Conduit Network is designed as a single raceway for all data providers operating within MaCEA-controlled areas of Makati.
The system spans 25.1 kilometers and is divided into dedicated ducts for exclusive use by member companies. Construction began in 2019 and was completed in December 2024.
