Converge ICT Solutions Inc. said Friday it secured a contract with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to deploy free Wi-Fi in the towns of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union.
The DICT said that in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s promise to provide digital connectivity across the country, it awarded Converge the contract to supply free Wi-Fi connectivity to 36 municipal sites in the Ilocos provinces and four municipal sites in La Union.
The DICT said it was working tirelessly to guarantee that every Filipino in every barangay in the nation would have access to affordable, fast and reliable Internet connectivity. The department activated over 4,000 free Wi-Fi stations in 17 regions, 75 provinces and the National Capital Region under the Free WiFi for All Program.
“We are very thankful to Converge for their support and commitment to our Free Wi-Fi for All Project: Provision of Internet Connectivity Services in Municipalities,” said DICT regional office 1 director Reynaldo Sy.
“This partnership will enable us to provide fast and reliable internet connectivity to all local government units in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union and Ilocos Norte Second District. We believe that this project will help us bridge the digital divide and empower our citizens to stay connected, access vital information, and participate in the digital economy,” he said.
Many Filipinos lack access to Internet connectivity and gadgets. According to the DICT’s 2019 National Information and Communications Technology Household Survey which was conducted in collaboration with the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute, about 48 percent of Filipinos consistently use the Internet, while only 18 percent of homes have access to it.
“Converge has been hard at work fast-tracking the layout of our fiber optic cables across the country to reach geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,” said Converge ICT chief operations officer Jesus Romero.
“Internet use has been integral in our everyday lives as well as the economic growth of our country, and we remain committed to working hand in hand with the Philippine government to fiber-power each Filipino household and business,” he said.
Converge has been at the forefront of the digital revolution in the Philippines, investing heavily in its digital infrastructure through the SEA-H2X Submarine Cable System and the trans-Pacific Bifrost Cable System to reach the unserved and underserved in the country.
Both cable systems aim to provide consumers and businesses in the Philippines with network diversity in the coming years.