At every moment, people make choices that affect their lives in one way or another: what time to wake up, what to wear for work, what to have for breakfast, and so on. Some decisions – like choosing a business partner – are more consequential and lead to bigger changes in our lives. But in all cases, having the power to choose is an important right that is bestowed on everyone, rich or poor.
That is why Converge, in emerging as the Top-rated Fixed Network in Ookla®’s Speedtest Awards™ for Q1-Q2 2022, reflects the choice of the majority. Because the award is based on user ratings, it means it reflects the customer’s preference and sentiment.
“It’s a reflection of the customer’s total experience in terms of the quality of service, not just raw speed. It’s also a measure of satisfaction so this indicates the customers are happy with the service we provide,” said Jesus C. Romero, Chief Operations Officer of Converge.
Converge garnered the highest average rating given to an ISP by the sample set of users using the Speedtest® 5-Star rating feature. The Speedtest 5-star rating is a user survey feature that appears after using the Ookla Speedtest.
Ookla®, the company behind Speedtest, is the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence, testing applications, and related technologies. The Top Rated Awards is part of the semi-annual Speedtest Awards, presented by Ookla.
“We are honored to be recognized for these achievements that reflect customer sentiment. Being the people’s choice of network means we are directing effort and investments in the right place. There’s nothing more important than giving people the service they deserve and I’m glad this is reflected in such ratings,” said Dennis Anthony Uy, CEO and President of Converge.
What has Converge done to earn the title of Top-Rated Fixed Network? Why has it become the people’s choice?
Expanding Coverage
Since 2020, Converge has been on an aggressive rollout nationwide of its fiber network. As of Q2 2022, its network has passed 13.5 million homes, and a household coverage of 52% in the Philippines. This meant that some 1.3 million fiber ports were rolled out in the first six months of 2022 alone.
This year, it’s going deep into existing markets in Visayas and Mindanao, as well as in existing coverage areas in Luzon to truly make the network available to all. It already has a presence in Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro, to name a few.
“We will continue to expand as we aim to serve the connectivity needs of our people,” Uy said.
Strong, Redundant Network
Other than its expansive coverage, Converge has the youngest and most advanced network in the country today, which allows it to deliver the best broadband experience to customers.
The total fiber assets of Converge – which includes the domestic backbone and the submarine cable segment – number over 563,000 kilometers as of April 2022.
This domestic network is equipped with two major redundancy loops – one in Luzon and another in Mindanao – to make sure it is protected against any localized network failure.
In 2021, the Company spent P25 billion on capital expenditures to complete its domestic subsea cable backbone connecting Visayas and Mindanao, expand distribution networks nationwide, and launch automation initiatives, among others.
“With our network, you have high speed, low latency, and very low jitter, this is perfect for two things: Gaming and Video. A lot of Filipinos play online games and we’re working on peering to get to these websites at the fastest possible time. Video streaming on the other hand, requires not only high speed, but low jitter,” added Romero.
Bang for your buck – Affordability
Even with its investment in its fiber network and its aggressive expansion nationwide, Converge makes sure it offers its service at a price point within reach of the average Filipino.
Its flagship product, the FiberX1500 has been upgraded from a 50 Mbps speed to 100 Mbps. Without increasing its pricing, it is able to offer more Filipinos an upgraded fiber broadband experience. That affordability will help more to enjoy a richer digital life.
“It’s not just about winning and gaining prestige. It’s about showing the Philippines that we have what it takes to give them the best internet solutions. Being able to connect to the internet should no longer be a privilege, but a right of every Filipino. That’s why Converge has been working hard for the past years to deliver fast and reliable internet to the underserved and unserved areas of the Philippines,” Romero closed.
To learn more about Converge, visit https://www.convergeict.com/.
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