Blackpanda Unveils The State of Cyber Security Vulnerabilities in SME Across Asia Pacific Upgrade on Flagship Product IR-1 Launched

Taguig City, Philippines - 22 April 2024 – Blackpanda, Asia’s premier digital forensics and cyber security firm, today released its first proprietary study, analyzing cyber security vulnerabilities in SME companies across the Asia Pacific region. For this study, Blackpanda utilizes in-house external attack surface management (ASM) scan to identify top vulnerabilities that represent significant risk level where threats are recommended to be resolved as soon as practicable or within a matter of days to prevent potential infiltration by attackers to launch an attack. 

The study reveals three major vulnerabilities that pose significant threats to regional security:

• Compromised Assets - Email breaches in the high-risk category constitute 71.68% of the total risk level combined, spotlighting a significant risk of information leakage and phishing attacks. This category represents the most extensive vulnerability, underscoring a critical need for advanced threat detection and incident response strategies.

• Exposed Web Services - Making up 69.92% of high-risk exposed services issues, vulnerabilities in web services indicate a widespread vulnerability to web-based attacks which can disrupt operations and compromise customer data. 

• Known Software Vulnerabilities - Medium-risk level accounts for 59.96% of the system security issues where these vulnerabilities emerge as a crucial focus area, with practicable actions required to prevent data breaches that could lead to severe financial and reputational damage.

Gene Yu, CEO of Blackpanda Group, commented, "The majority of the cyber incidents we encounter can be traced back to fundamental vulnerabilities that remain unpatched. Just as a burglar can easily enter through an unlocked door or opened window, cyber attackers exploit these open vulnerabilities to breach systems. As part of our commitment at Blackpanda, and through our Pandamatics Underwriting arm, we are not only focused on responding to these emergencies but also on significantly reducing the occurrence of such attacks across the entire market. This data isn’t just a collection of statistics; it's a roadmap showing us where the industry needs to direct its attention and resources to fortify its defences effectively."

In addition to the top three vulnerabilities, the study also draws attention to other significant security risks, including:

• Database and remote access services vulnerabilities, emphasizing the importance of robust access controls.

• System services and DNS configuration issues, highlighting the need for improved security practices.

• Underlying risks from software misconfiguration and SSL/TLS configuration gaps, which can lead to severe breaches if not addressed promptly.

Evelyn Del Monte, Managing Director for Blackpanda Philippines, commented, "In the Philippines, we see a significant number of high severity vulnerabilities that allow attackers to compromise administrative credentials, gain unauthorized access to email accounts, or disrupt server operations. Given this context, robust security measures and proactive threat management aren't just advisable—they are critical. Our incident response capabilities are tailored to address these challenges head-on, ensuring that businesses can safeguard their digital environments effectively."

Blackpanda's comprehensive study not only maps out current vulnerabilities but also provides tailored recommendations for businesses to enhance their security architectures. By implementing the suggested strategies, companies and national agencies can significantly mitigate the risk of cyber attacks, protecting their data and operations against increasingly sophisticated threats.

IR-1 by Blackpanda 

Blackpanda's flagship solution, IR-1, integrates top-tier incident response, continuous vulnerability assessments, and seamless access to cyber insurance—all in one SaaS platform. IR-1 is a yearly subscription designed for small and medium sized enterprises in the Asia Pacific region, combining proactive cyber security tools and hassle-free incident response.

Instantaneous, Round-the-Clock Incident Response

One of the standout features of IR-1 is its 24/7 fixed-cost incident response service. This feature guarantees businesses immediate access to expert support in the event of a cyber incident, which is crucial for minimizing downtime and mitigating damage swiftly. The fixed-cost model also helps businesses better manage their cybersecurity budgets by preventing unexpected costs associated with emergency responses.

Proactive Continuous Vulnerability Scanning

At the heart of IR-1’s preventative strategy is its continuous vulnerability scanning capability. This service works tirelessly to monitor and detect vulnerabilities within an organization’s digital environment. By identifying and addressing these vulnerabilities early, businesses can significantly reduce their exposure to potential cyberattacks and enhance their overall security posture.

Streamlined Access to Cyber Insurance

Another innovative aspect of IR-1 is its automated cyber insurance access, available specifically in Singapore and Hong Kong through Pandamatics Underwriting, an entity of the Blackpanda Group. This feature simplifies the process of obtaining cyber insurance, allowing businesses to quickly secure coverage that aligns with their risk management strategies. 

A Unified Solution for Enhanced Cybersecurity

"IR-1 equips our clients with robust tools and resources essential for both preventing and mitigating cyberattacks," explains Evelyn del Monte, Blackpanda’s Managing Director for Philippines. "We are not resting on our laurels; rather, we have several significant upgrades scheduled for this year. Our subscribers can look forward to rolling out even more advanced, technology-driven solutions tailored to their needs."

In the Philippines, Blackpanda’s channel network partners are: Exclusive Networks (EN), and iSecure Network (ISN).

Globe-owned IT Solutions Company Yondu Highlights Importance of Cybersecurity Tools and Services

MANILA, Philippines — With the recent slew of cyber attacks on various government and private entities’ websites in the country, the importance of cybersecurity has once again been put under the spotlight, with calls to further bolster the country’s defenses. Yondu, the top IT solutions company wholly owned by Globe, believes that while progress has been apparent in recent years, there’s still a lot of work to be done to improve cybersecurity in the country.

Dennis Paul Sanchez, Chief Information Security Officer of Yondu, noted that both big and small businesses are at risk of cyber threats and attacks, reiterating the need for cybersecurity measures.

Cybersecurity ensures the protection of a business through up-to-date software, well-informed employees, and safe practices. When a business’ website gets cyber-attacked, it could potentially lose data, profit, and credibility.

Hence, Yondu has developed solutions that help prevent cyber attacks and tools that quickly respond to threats to lessen the impact on companies and organizations. Yondu aims to ensure its partners are well-equipped to protect sensitive data and proprietary information.

Sanchez explained that Yondu has different approaches. There is the proactive and reactive approach wherein a team of Yondu experts would monitor and assess the company’s state of cybersecurity first and respond accordingly. Another is the predictive approach - threat intelligence in which the Yondu team uses data analytics to predict threats based on dark web criminal behavior, previous cyber attacks, and keeping up with current trends.

Whatever the approach, Yondu assesses the needs of a business and analyzes the risks it may encounter before recommending tailored solutions. Yondu then works closely with the company or organization to meet the suggested standards. 

While Yondu is pushing for tighter cybersecurity measures across different industries, it acknowledges that not every business can afford to avail the best solutions. Thus, it is offering tools and procedures that are cost-efficient and cost-effective based on the needs of the business, preventing them from overspending. 

With increasingly meticulous phishing scams and simultaneous cyber-attacks becoming more common, Yondu urges businesses to start investing in cybersecurity solutions to prevent attacks that could also target customers.

“There's no single-bullet approach. Only having one or two layers of protection is not enough anymore. You need a lot of measures in place to be protected, so a third-party service provider is needed to enforce these solutions and prevent the risk of customer loss, data breach, loss of profit, and damage to business reputation,” Sanchez said.

Find out more about Yondu’s cybersecurity services by visiting www.yondu.com, following them on their social media platforms, and subscribing to their newsletter.

PLDT and Smart Equip Startups with Cybersecurity, Data Management

PLDT and Smart technical field experts shared cybersecurity and data management best practices with the finalists of the PLDT and Smart Startup Innovation Challenge. Organized by PLDT Innolab, the learning sessions aimed to further arm the participating startups with the importance of compliance to data management and preparedness to handle potential cyber threats.

“In an ever-increasingly digital world, we recognize the importance of injecting cybersecurity and data privacy into the DNA of startups. This mindset will help them become equipped in any future corporate collaborations,” said PLDT Head of Innovations Lab and Ecosystem Partnerships (INNOLAB) Kristine Dara Ever Juan.

One of the topics under the #CyberSmart module focused on protection of social media assets. Elijah Mendoza, Smart Senior Manager for Digital Communications, warned innovators against phishing activities that aim to trick victims into revealing their personal information and other login credentials.

“Beware of unidentified callers or senders. Never share sensitive data. Do not open links from suspicious images. This is a common tactic scammers use to lure victims to phishing websites,” he said.

To protect digital assets, Mendoza emphasized the importance of keeping One-Time Passwords or OTPs private and how legitimate organizations will never ask for it at any point.

Carl Balagot, Head of Awareness, Training, and User Adoption of PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group (CSOG), urged innovators to educate team members on cyber threats. He recommended limiting user privileges to data and systems necessary for their roles. Balagot also suggested using intrusion detection systems, security information and event management tools, and network traffic analysis to detect anomalies.

“Businesses need an incident response plan. It outlines the steps to be taken in a security incident, as well as the person to contact, how to isolate affected systems, and what to communicate with stakeholders,” added Balagot.

Dinjo Constantino, Learning and Communications Executive at the PLDT Data Privacy Office, unpacked the module on Data Privacy and Protection to help startups manage customer information.

“You need to be transparent why you are collecting customer data. There must be a legitimate reason why you’re processing it. The information being asked needs to be proportionate for the purpose of its collection,” reminded Constantino.

He also discussed the Privacy Impact Assessment, a decision-making tool used to identify and mitigate privacy risks at the beginning of a project and throughout its data lifecycle.

Ten teams made it to the finals of the PLDT and Smart Startup Innovation Challenge. Cebu-based Xeleqt AI with its AIOT-powered end-to-end HR Automation Solutions took home the grand prize, during the Final Pitching and Demo Day held on the second day of the Philippine Digital Convention 2023 (PH Digicon 2023) organized by PLDT Enterprise.

The efforts of PLDT and Smart to share CyberSmart tips are rooted in their customer-centric culture where they aim to elevate the quality of customer experience by protecting them from threats and cyber-attacks. The PLDT Group’s initiatives to boost startups and innovators support the government’s Go Digital Pilipinas Movement and the Digital Infrastructure pillar of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), which seek to elevate lives of Filipinos through digital service.

ChatGPT: Can it help AI-led Cyberattacks?

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Science, technology and all its components have strongly benefited the human race over generations. By definition, it is the search for new knowledge to improve the quality of life.  However, everything has the potential of being good or bad depending on the people who are behind it.

The relentless quest to mimic and decipher the human mind has ushered an era of Artificial Intelligence. ChatGPT, a text-based artificial intelligence (AI) bot has made headlines for its use of advanced AI. From accurately fixing a coding bug, generating cooking recipes, creating 3D animations, to composing entire songs, ChatGPT has showcased the mindblowing power of AI to unlock a world of incredible new possibilities and new risks.

Since its launch on November 2022, tech experts and commentators worldwide have been concerned about the impact AI-generated content tools will have on cybersecurity. 

In the recent Black Hat and Defcon security conferences, a demonstration of hacking humans with AI-as-a-service revealed howAI can actually craft better phishing emails and devilishly effective spear phishing messages than people.

Researchers using OpenAI's GPT-3 platform in combination with other AI-as-a-service products focused on personality analysis generated phishing emails that were generated customised using their colleagues' backgrounds and characters. Eventually, the researchers developed a pipeline that refined the emails before hitting their targets. To their surprise, the platform also automatically supplied specifics, such as mentioning a Singaporean law when instructed to generate content for people in Singapore.

The makers of ChatGPT have clearly suggested that the AI-driven tool has the in-built ability to challenge incorrect premises and reject inappropriate requests. While the system apparently has inbuilt guardrails designed to prevent any kind of criminal activities, however, with a few tweaks, it generated a near flawless phishing email that sounded ‘Weirdly Human’. 

This could mean more trouble for markets that are highly vulnerable to phishing attacks such as the Philippines. In fact, the enormity of phishing campaigns in the country prompted the government to begin investigations. This resulted in the approval of the SIM Card Registration Act, a law that mandates users to register personal information upon SIM card activation and purchase in an effort to encourage responsibility and give law enforcement an identification tool for resolving crimes.

Sean Duca, Vice President and Regional Chief Security Officer for Asia Pacific & Japan at Palo Alto Networks, said, “Considering the looming threats of an ever smarter and technologically advanced hacking landscape, the cybersecurity industry must be equally resourced to fight such AI-powered exploits. In the long run, the industry’s vision cannot be that a swarm of human threat hunters try to sporadically fix this with guesswork.” 

The need of the hour is to take intelligent action to neutralise these evolving threats. On the positive side, Autonomous Response is today significantly addressing threats without human intervention. However, as AI-powered attacks become a part of everyday life, businesses, governments and individuals impacted by such automated malware must increasingly rely on emerging technologies such as AI and ML to generate their own automated responses.

As AI continues to be developed, businesses will continue to face a number of challenges in navigating the AI cybersecurity landscape. In particular, there is considerable focus on finding the balance between machines, humans, and ethical considerations. 

“Establishing corporate policies is critical to doing business ethically, while improving cybersecurity. We need to establish effective governance and legal frameworks that enable greater trust in AI technologies being implemented around us to be safe, reliable, and contribute to a just and sustainable world. The delicate balance between AI and humans will therefore emerge as a key factor towards successful cybersecurity in which trust, transparency, and accountability supplement the benefits of machines,” Duca concluded.

###

About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks is the world’s cybersecurity leader. We innovate to outpace cyberthreats, so organizations can embrace technology with confidence. We provide next-gen cybersecurity to thousands of customers globally, across all sectors. Our best-in-class cybersecurity platforms and services are backed by industry-leading threat intelligence and strengthened by state-of-the-art automation. Whether deploying our products to enable the Zero Trust Enterprise, responding to a security incident, or partnering to deliver better security outcomes through a world-class partner ecosystem, we’re committed to helping ensure each day is safer than the one before. It’s what makes us the cybersecurity partner of choice.

At Palo Alto Networks, we’re committed to bringing together the very best people in service of our mission, so we’re also proud to be the cybersecurity workplace of choice, recognized among Newsweek’s Most Loved Workplaces (2021), Comparably Best Companies for Diversity (2021) and HRC Best Places for LGBTQ Equality (2022). For more information, visit www.paloaltonetworks.com.

Supporting Strong Connectivity While Staying Home with Converge ICT

With most of the population working from home, the country’s workforce is relying on fast internet connection and efficient productivity tools. That is why fastest growing internet service provider Converge ICT is resuming their operations in Metro Manila and select areas in North Luzon to power hundreds of Filipino households relying on their broadband service.
To protect both their employees and consumers, installer personnel will be covered with protective masks and all paraphernalia and vehicles will be fully sanitized before being taken out for service.

On their part, employees are given temporary lodging near their office, sanitation kits with alcohol, gloves, and masks, and vitamins to boost their immune system. They are also provided with food to minimize their mobility and undergo daily temperature checks.
“We, at Converge, are a firm believer in acting together in these challenging times to provide the best service for Filipinos. As we all adapt into the new normal homes and select businesses should get the extensive resources and support to be online. We will do what we can to provide strong connectivity because more than ever now, we need to stay connected with loved ones, friends and colleagues that we can only see virtually,” said Dennis Uy, Founder of Converge ICT Solutions.

“The health and safety of our people is paramount, so we are implementing necessary measures to keep them from harm’s way. We know that through this we are able to extend outstanding service to our customers too,” he added.

The processing of applications for new users has already resumed and will operate during weekends to fast track the need for Converge’s service. In addition to the installation service, customer service and repair services will also resume. The services may take within 3 to 10 days in compliance with travel restrictions, checkpoints, and essential manpower that may restrict the operations.

As a company resolute in being one with the front-liners, Converge has also previously given more than a thousand units of personal protective equipment to Angeles City Hospital.
For inquiries and the list of open branches visit https://www.convergeict.com/

About Converge ICT Solutions

Converge ICT Solutions is the leading fiber internet and digital consumer-centric services provider in the country. It is the first to run a pure end-to-end fiber internet network, providing Filipinos simple, fast, and reliable internet connection. Converge ICT Solutions is ISO and CE2.0 Certified.

Converge ICT First to Complete Free WI-FI Infra Among Players

Converge ICT, the country’s premier pure end to end fiber Data and Internet service provider, recently announced the completion of the free Wi-Fi infrastructure for the list of areas the Department of Information and Technology (DICT) has contracted under the Free Public Internet Access Program – Free Wi-Fi for All.

Previously, the DICT engaged all telco players through public bidding, to provide free public Wi-Fi to Filipinos in an effort to make available “free, open and high-quality” Internet access to users. The free Wi-Fi must be accessible in places like health centers, hospitals, parks, and schools, among others. Converge ICT is the first to fulfill service requirements, overcoming challenges and fast-tracking completion ahead of other contracted DICT vendors.

DICT awarded 186 sites to Converge ICT including key areas like Manila, Pasay City, and Quezon City. "We are glad to have been able to fulfill the task the DICT has given us," said Ronald G. Brusola, Chief Technology Officer of Converge ICT. "We are one with the government in providing free high-quality Internet access to Filipinos, and we will use our broad and strong infrastructure to give users seamless Internet experience they deserve."

DICT mapped out public areas that will be provided with free broadband Internet access in all municipalities and cities nationwide, especially in far-flung areas. This service is available in public plazas and parks, public libraries, schools, colleges, and universities; rural health units and government hospitals; train stations, airports, and seaports; and national and local government offices.

As of June 30, 2019, the Philippines has 67 million internet users from a population of over 100 million (Based on Internet World States https://www.internetworldstats.com/stats3.htm ).

"Converge ICT believes that access to the Internet is a fundamental need, which drives us to further expand our network by forging partnerships and strengthening our infrastructure." said Jesus C. Romero, Chief Operating Officer of Converge ICT.

The Internet is now a tool to accelerate economic, social, and educational opportunities. Beyond casual browsing and research, it is an important component for organizations to move forward with digitalization, and for citizens to communicate and transact with the government. The opportunity to give free Internet access makes it feasible to advance socio-economic agenda that will lead to nation-building.

About Converge ICT Solutions

Converge ICT Solutions is the leading fiber internet and digital consumer-centric services provider in the country. It is the first to run a pure end-to-end fiber internet network, providing Filipinos simple, fast, and reliable internet connection. Converge ICT Solutions is ISO and CE2.0 Certified.

Converge ICT Inks Partnership with Pay & Go for Easier Payment Schemes

Manila, Philippines – As Converge ICT further ensures of a more convenient customer journey, the leading fiber internet and data solutions company aims to innovate their services and make it more accessible.

Thanks to a new partnership with leading self-service payment kiosk operator BTI Payments, Converge ICT’s customers can pay their bills in more than 500 self-service Pay & Go payment kiosks, with a number of them operating 24/7. For customers, this means more locations for paying bills, shorter queues, and an enhanced customer experience.

Since launching the country’s first pure end-to-end fiber internet network, Converge ICT has been offering Filipino consumers a speedier and more reliable internet connection. Last year, Converge ICT rolled out the country’s first 400Gbps backbone to augment existing domestic network capacity. As an extension of the company’s mantra to optimize customer experience, Converge ICT partnered with BTI. This endeavor intends to deliver an improved end-to-end customer experience that goes all the way to bills payment.

Innovative customer-centric programs as such has enabled Converge ICT to grow its base and allow more Filipinos to enjoy premium fiber internet experience. And for efforts such as this, the fiber internet organization has been cited by London-based International Finance Awards Group as the “Fastest Growing Fiber Internet Service Provider in the Philippines.”

“Converge ICT is about giving Filipino consumers the kind of connectivity that is simple, fast, and easy. As we grow our presence in the Philippines, we are turning to credible and capable partners who will help us deliver the kind of customer experience we promise. In terms of bills payment, Pay & Go has the expertise and nationwide presence that complement our goal of delivering that seamless experience,” said Dennis “J3” Uy, Converge ICT President & CEO.

“Our growing portfolio of kiosks is located nationwide and will be in more places relevant and synonymous to where paying customers are at. We want to seamlessly integrate it into their fast-paced lifestyles, making payments without a hassle – whether you are in the office, supermarket, pharmacy, mall or at home. As our service is real time, anytime – we ensure Converge transactions through Pay & Go will be no different from doing it at their stores or business offices,” said BTI Payments Country Head Dan Ibarra.

“We aim to support the growing Philippine market with decades of experience in payments solutions. We are looking forward to collaborate with Converge and BTI Payments PH to enhance processes that will provide better customer service,” said Peter Blackett General Manager, Strategic Development & Asia of BANKTECH, and Director of BTI Payments Philippines.

BTI payments is a wholly owned subsidiary of BANKTECH, a top provider of ATM and payment technology in Australia and Asia for the past 25 years.

About Converge ICT Solutions

Converge ICT Solutions is the leading fiber internet and digital consumer-centric services provider in the country. It is the first to run a pure end-to-end fiber internet network, providing Filipinos simple, fast, and reliable internet connection. Converge ICT Solutions is ISO and CE2.0 Certified.

About BTI Payments

BTI Payments is a leading self-service payments kiosk certified by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. With its expertise in delivering innovative solutions to the market, it enables financial institutions, telecommunication companies, utilities, and merchants more access points in serving their respective markets.

Converge ICT cited as Philippines' Fastest Growing Fiber Internet Service Provider

Converge ICT Solutions, the broadband services provider behind the country’s first pure end-to-end fiber internet network, has been cited as the ‘Fastest Growing Fibre Internet Service Provider’ by the International Finance Awards.

The recognition comes from London-based global business and finance magazine, International Finance. According to the publication, Converge ICT is recognized to be true to its mission to upgrade the overall digital experience of the country. International Finance also lauded the company’s growth from the grassroots to become a budding powerhouse provider of pure end-to-end fiber internet.

Since the launch of Converge ICT’s fiber packages, the Philippines saw a steady and noticeable internet speed improvement. According to the world-renowned digital delivery network Akamai, the Philippines’ average internet speed in the third quarter of 2016 was only at 4.2Mbps. By the first quarter of 2016, the average download speed in the Philippines has increased by 135.90 percent to 18.66Mbps, Akamai reported.

One of the most recent milestones of Converge ICT is the introduction of the country’s first 400Gbps backbone to augment existing domestic network capacity. This allows 400G per channel at 64 channels or the equivalent of 25.6Tbps at capacity.

The backbone is considered a boost to major businesses and institutions such as business process outsourcing companies and financial institutions, which require high capacity connectivity or bandwidth. The rollout also allowed individual subscribers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to enjoy faster connection without any data cap for high bandwidth capacity.

Converge ICT has received the award last January 31, 2020 at Waldorf Astoria, Bangkok, Thailand.

About Converge ICT Solutions

Converge ICT Solutions is the leading fiber internet and digital consumer-centric services provider in the country. It is the first to run a pure end-to-end fiber internet network, providing Filipinos simple, fast, and reliable internet connection. Converge ICT Solutions is ISO and CE2.0 Certified.

Converge ICT Donates to Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital

Converge ICT Solutions Inc, the country’s premiere provider of pure end-to-end fiber connectivity, has always been committed to empowering the Filipino nation to “Experience Better.”

In line with the advocacy to uplift people’s quality of life via upgrading their online experience, the company has been upscaling their efforts to contribute in nation-building from more than just the digital aspect. As part of its corporate social responsibility efforts, the company adopted a Surgical Ward with the intention to uplift the healthcare services of the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital in Calapan City. With this donation, the hospital can procure needed equipment to aid in the improvement of their operations.

Private sector-initiated efforts like this enables public institutions like the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital to improve surgical healthcare service and take better care of their patients.

As Converge ICT expands its services south of the country, its efforts to upgrade experiences, both online and offline will surely be felt by more Filipinos.

Converge ICT Earmarks $250M Investment to Nationwide Expansion

Converge ICT, the country’s premier pure end to end fiber internet service provider, received a multi-million-dollar investment from Warburg Pincus, a private equity firm based in the United States.

Converge ICT has been aggressively expanding its fiber infrastructure with the aim of providing Filipinos access to the more reliable fiber internet connection. The $250 million or P12.8 billion investment will be earmarked on rolling out more fiber connections nationwide.

"Since going full throttle with our fiber network roll-out and package offerings, the change in overall Philippine performance has been noticeable," said Dennis Uy, founder and president, Converge ICT. "In 2018, the average connection has risen to 18Mbps. We don't take full credit but the company’s contributions have been undeniable."

This is the Warburg Pincus' first investment in the Philippines. One of the world's biggest equity firms has $20 billion invested in Asia and about $65 billion in assets under management.

"We are excited about the country’s young, digital-savvy population and its thriving services industries, which have created an outsized need for connectivity and will create explosive growth in the broadband space," said Saurabh Agarwal, managing director, Warburg Pincus. "Converge ICT is a remarkable business and growth story and I am confident that it will continue to achieve significant growth milestones and solve the ever-increasing connectivity needs of the country."

Converge ICT is looking at capturing 30% of the country's broadband market in the next few years. With this investment, Converge ICT will be able to fastrack the construction of its $1.8-billion nationwide internet backbone. The current rollout includes a $70-million domestic submarine cable with 20 landing stations across the Philippines. The Luzon backbone is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2020.

"Converge ICT is the only pure end-to-end fiber internet provider in the country with all-in house capabilities," said Uy. "We have been investing heavily on innovations that would move the broadband market forward so we can be on par with our neighbors. We have rolled out 400Gbps per channel in the past."

At present, Converge ICT is looking at doubling its half-a-million subscribers by next year. Seventy percent of the company's customer base are first-time fixed broadband service users and Uy plans to increase that with more expansions in the coming months.

Converge ICT Extends Expansion in Baguio

Converge ICT Solutions (Converge ICT), a major provider of telecommunication and cable television services in the Philippines, had expanded its reach in the urban landscape Baguio.

Its partnership with Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc. (BENECO), Converge ICT has always wanted to provide a faster and more reliable connection in the northern part of Luzon. BENECO is an electric cooperative which provides electricity to the city of Baguio and Benguet Province. It is the first electric cooperative to enter into a partnership with a company such as Converge in order to provide internet to its member-consumers. Plans for Baguio expansion has already been in place since 2017.

Converge ICT has been operating in Baguio since 2018 and further expansion is in the works since the first half of 2019.
"Customers in Baguio have long been waiting for an alternative internet provider that can give them a better service," said Chief Operating Officer Jesus Romero. "Converge ICT's partnership with BENECO is equitable as well because BENECO’s electric poles are infrastructure-ready for use, which means that we can easily fast track the expansion."

BENECO also benefits from the use of Converge ICT's fiber-optic infrastructure. This allows them to comply with the directive from the National Electrification Administration and the Department of Information and Technology to tap electric cooperatives to bring internet to clients assisting the government in achieving its goals with National Broadband Plan.

Baguio may be a challenging location for laying down fiber-optics because of its terrain, which makes the partnership with BENECO feasible. The combined expertise of Converge ICT's technical team and BENECO’s familiarity with the terrain made the work more manageable.

The plans and packages Converge ICT is offering to Baguio residents and establishments include the Converge fiber plans FiberX 1500, 2500, 3500, and Fiber Xtreme 4500 and 7000.

Converge ICT also offers reasonable plans specially geared towards the small and medium enterprise segment. These include the iBiz 10mbps at Plan 4000, iBiz 20mbps at Plan 6000, iBiz 30mbps at Plan 9000, iBiz 40mbps at Plan 12,000, and iBiz 50mbps at Plan 15,000.
The enterprise segment will get dedicated internet access with business broadband and wholesale IP transit. For value added services, enterprises will have data center services at two co-locations in Luzon.

Converge ICT has been providing Baguio with a faster connection than before in the following areas: Apugan-Loakan, Atok Trail, Bakakeng Central, Bakakeng North, Balsigan, BGH Compound, Camp 7, Camp 8, Dontogan, DPS Compound, Engineer’s Hill, Engineer’s Hill-Teachers Camp, Ferdinand, Gabriela Silang, General Luna – Salud Mitra, General Luna Upper, Green Water Village, Hillside, Imelda Marcos, Liwanag-Loakan, Liwanag Proper, Loakan Proper, Marcoville, Military Cut-off, Philam, Poliwes, San Vicente, Santo Tomas Proper, Scout Barrio, Sta. Escolastica, Sto. Rosario, and Upper & Lower Dagsian.

The start of operations in the remaining areas are already in the works and will be fully serviceable in the coming months.

For more information on Converge ICT, visit https://www.convergeict.com/.


About Converge ICT Solutions

Converge ICT Solutions is the leading fiber internet and digital consumer-centric services provider in the country. It is the first to run a pure end-to-end fiber internet network, providing Filipinos simple, fast, and reliable internet connection. Converge ICT Solutions is ISO and CE2.0 Certified.