Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions Inc. has marked a major milestone in its expansion in the Visayas region after the telecommunications company’s fiber cables reached the shores of Cebu.

“What was once a dream to connect the whole nation with our fiber backbone is now closer to reality. We celebrate a major milestone in Converge as our fiber cables land in the Visayas,” Converge chief executive officer Dennis Anthony Uy said via social media on Sunday.

The Pampanga-based businessman shared photos of the landing of the company’s fiber cables in Cebu’s northernmost town of San Remigio.

This marks the start of its expansion here as the demand for fiber internet continues to rise amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“I have always been passionate about technology and helping the Filipino people. Now, we are one step closer to bringing world-class fiber connectivity to customers nationwide,” Uy said.

Converge specializing in fiber optic broadband services has recorded a jump in subscriptions since the pandemic started, giving it an opportunity to rival the well-entrenched telecommunications in the market.

The publicly listed firm earlier said it plans to launch commercial fiber broadband services in Visayas and Mindanao by the second quarter of this year.

Expansion in Visayas and Mindanao includes 1,800 kilometers of submarine sea cables, connecting over 20 landing stations across the country, Converge said.

The company has earmarked PHP20-billion capital expenditure for expansion works, digitalization, and other expenses this year, Uy said.

Converge said pilot testing in Cebu has started. It also aims to cover Davao, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bacolod City, and Cagayan De Oro. Its goal is to reach 55 percent of the country’s residential homes by 2025.

Uy earlier said the company was always on the lookout for new technologies to bring the best connection for Filipinos, disclosing that its talks with Elon Musk’s low-orbit satellite internet system Starlink had been going on.

The Philippines ranked 92nd place, up eight notches, in Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index in February with an average fixed download speed of 38.46 megabits per second (Mbps) from January’s 32.73 Mbps. (PNA)