Converge ICT Solutions Inc. and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) joined forces to bring free wi-fi to Ilocos Norte and Sur municipalities, as well as La Union municipalities.
In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s promise to provide digital connectivity across the country, DICT awarded Converge the contract to supply free wi-fi connectivity to 36 municipal sites in Ilocos Sur and Norte and 4 municipal sites in La Union.
The DICT has been working tirelessly to guarantee that every Filipino in every barangay in the nation has access to affordable, fast, and reliable internet connectivity. The department has activated over 4,000 free wi-fi stations in 17 regions, 75 provinces, and the National Capital Region (NCR) under the Free WiFi for All Program.
Engr. Reynaldo T. Sy, DICT Regional Office 1 Director, expressed his gratitude and optimism about the partnership with Converge ICT Solutions Inc.: “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. This partnership will enable us to provide fast and reliable internet connectivity to all Local Government Units (LGU) 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.”
Many Filipinos continue to lack access to internet connectivity and gadgets. According to the DICT’s 2019 National Information and Communications Technology Household Survey (NICTHS), conducted in collaboration with the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI),
48 percent of Filipinos consistently use the internet, while only 18 percent of homes have access to it.
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.
Recently crowned the Broadband Telecom Company of the Year (Philippines) for the second time in a row by the prestigious Asian Telecom Awards, the ICT company has been aggressively collaborating with LGUs and various local and international enterprises to enable societal transformation and progress to promote digital democracy in the Philippines.
“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 (GIDAs). 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,” said Converge Chief Operations Officer Jesus C. Romero.
DICT and Converge sealed their alliance through a contract signing event at DICT’s Region 1 Office in Bauang, La Union. Present at the event are DICT Region 1 OIC Chief (Technical Operations Divisions) Mary Jane Nerona, DICT Head of the Procuring Entity, and DICT Region 1 Director Engr. Reynaldo T. Sy, Converge Enterprise Public Sector Unit Head Evangeline Aquino, and Converge Key Account Manager Jonathan Arenas.
