Converge ICT

{{Short description|Internet service provider in the Philippines}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Converge ICT

| logo = Converge ICT logo.svg

| traded_as = {{pse|CNVRG}}

| logo_size = 300px

| caption =

| image = File:9258Macabebe_Apalit,_Pampanga_Pulilan_32.jpg

| image_caption = A Converge ICT business center in Apalit, Pampanga

| type = Public

| foundation = Angeles City, Philippines
({{start date and age|2007|10|17}})

| founder = {{plainlist|

Dennis Anthony Uy
Maria Grace Y. Uy

}}

| key_people =

Dennis Anthony Uy
({{small|CEO and Executive Director}}){{Cite web |date=May 6, 2023 |title=Board of Directors, Senior Management, and Adviser |url=https://corporate.convergeict.com/board-executives/ |access-date=6 May 2023 |website=Converge ICT Corporate Site}}
Maria Grace Y. Uy
({{small|President, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Resource Officer, and Executive Director}})
Jesus C. Romero
({{small|Chief Operating Officer}})

| area_served = Philippines
Singapore

| industry = Communications services

| products = Cable television
IPTV services
Broadband services

| brands = {{plainlist|

Air Cable
Air Internet
Converge FiberX
Converge Vision
Converge Business
Surf2Sawa Prepaid Fiber
BidaFiber

}}

| homepage = {{URL|https://www.convergeict.com/}}

| divisions =

| subsid = {{plainlist|

Converge Venture Holdings Inc.
Converge ICT Solutions Global Ltd.
Converge ICT Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Telstra Converge Inc.
({{small|Joint venture with Telstra}})
Asia Netcom Philippines
({{small|Joint venture with ANPC}})

}}

| owner = {{ubl|Comclark Network and Technology Corp. (66.02%)| Public (33.91%)}}

| revenue = {{increase}} {{Philippine peso|35.36 billion}} (FY 2023){{cite web |url=https://corporate.convergeict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CNVRG_FY23_17A.SRredacted_vF_compressed.pdf |title=Converge FY2023 17-A Annual Report |publisher=Converge ICT Solutions Inc. |access-date=10 May 2024}}

| net_income = {{increase}} {{Philippine peso|12.12 billion}} (FY 2023)

| num_employees = 3,379 (2023)

| location_country = Philippines

| location_city = Reliance IT Building, 99 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave, Ugong, Pasig, Metro Manila

| module = {{infobox network service provider|child=yes|asn=17639}}

}}

Converge ICT Solutions Inc., doing business as Converge (also known as ComClark in Pampanga), is a telecommunication service provider in the Philippines. It operates fiber optic broadband networks, Internet Protocol television (marketed as Converge Vision; in partnership with Pacific Kabelnet), cable television (marketed as Air Cable), and cable Internet (marketed as Air Internet) in the country. It had 1,969,663 FiberX subscribers as of June 2023 capturing 54% of the market share of fiber to the home in the country.{{Cite news |last=Camus |first=Miguel R. |date=August 29, 2020 |title=Converge ICT H1 profit jumps 50% |language=en |url=https://business.inquirer.net/306101/converge-ict-h1-profit-jumps-50 |access-date=November 27, 2020}} As of 2022, the Converge fiber backbone reached 600,000 kilometers, passing through 495 cities and municipalities across the country.

History

Converge was established in 1996 as the ComClark Network and Technology Corp. by Dennis Anthony Uy in 1996 at Angeles City.{{cite news |last1=Manabat |first1=Ashley |title=From VHS tapes to fiber optic business: Emerging telco magnate Dennis H. Uy bags entrepreneur award |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/11/24/from-vhs-tapes-to-fiber-optic-business-emerging-telco-magnate-dennis-h-uy-bags-entrepreneur-award/ |access-date=20 March 2022 |work=BusinessMirror |date=24 November 2020}}

In 2009, the Congress of the Philippines enacted Republic Act No. 9707, to grant Converge ICT Solutions Inc. the franchise to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain a telecommunication system throughout the Philippines.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2009/08/08/republic-act-no-9707/|title=Republic Act No. 9707|website=www.officialgazette.gov.ph|access-date=March 25, 2019|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728142934/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2009/08/08/republic-act-no-9707/|url-status=dead}}

In 2020, Converge ICT Solutions Inc. debuted in the Philippine Stock Exchange through an initial public offering.{{cite news |author1=Cigaral, Ian Nicolas |title=PSE clears Converge ICT's stock market debut |url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2020/10/01/2046490/pse-clears-converge-icts-stock-market-debut |access-date=October 10, 2020 |publisher=Philippine Star |date=October 1, 2020}}

In 2021, Uy told local media that a deal “is on” with Satellite Internet provider Starlink.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-22|title=Starlink to launch in country with one of the world's worst internet connections|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/spacex-starlink-map-philippines-internet-b1820701.html|access-date=2021-04-06|website=The Independent|language=en}}

Demand for services surged during the pandemic, with an estimated 84% jump in revenue during the first quarter of the 2021 fiscal year.{{Cite web|last=Muslimin|first=Anis Shakirah Mohd|title=Billionaire Couple Debut In Top Ten As Demand For Their Company's Broadband Services Explodes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/anismuslimin/2021/09/08/billionaire-couple-debut-in-top-ten-as-demand-for-their-companys-broadband-services-explodes/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Forbes|language=en}}

In 2021, the company also partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and local governments to provide free fiber-powered internet and tents at Diskwento Caravan.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-11|title=Converge partners with DTI and LGUs in Bicol|url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/09/11/public-square/converge-partners-with-dti-and-lgus-in-bicol/1814257|access-date=2021-09-10|website=The Manila Times|language=en}}

In October 2021, Converge ICT completed the domestic subsea cable project, with ₱6 billion investment cost.{{Cite web|date=November 11, 2021|title=CNVRG 3Q2021 Briefing Presentation|url=https://corporate.convergeict.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CONVERGE-3Q2021-Analyst-Briefing-Presentation-vF.pdf|url-status=live|website=Converge ICT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112072932/https://corporate.convergeict.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CONVERGE-3Q2021-Analyst-Briefing-Presentation-vF.pdf |archive-date=November 12, 2021 }}

In July 2024, Converge ICT announced that their subsidiary Reliance Broadcasting Unlimited had been granted a license by the National Telecommunications Commission to broadcast free-to-air TV networks via satellite television in the country. They announced plans to launch the service with KT SAT, a subsidiary of KT Corporation, with an eye towards serving rural areas.{{cite web |title=Converge affiliate Reliance Broadcasting goes nationwide with satellite TV tech |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/7/9/converge-affiliate-reliance-broadcasting-goes-nationwide-with-satellite-tv-tech-1448 |website=ABS-CBN News |access-date=10 July 2024 |date=9 July 2024}}

Service areas

Converge ICT serves fiber optic Internet access in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon and several parts of the Bicol and Ilocos regions,{{cite news|title=Converge ICT vows early completion of fiber-optic cable installation in Cavite|url=https://business.mb.com.ph/2017/10/19/converge-ict-vows-early-completion-of-fiber-optic-cable-installation-in-cavite/|access-date=August 15, 2019|work=Manila Bulletin|archive-date=August 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815230635/https://business.mb.com.ph/2017/10/19/converge-ict-vows-early-completion-of-fiber-optic-cable-installation-in-cavite/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last1=Olandres|first1=Abe|title=Cavite-wide Fiber Optic Network signed with Converge|url=https://www.yugatech.com/news/cavite-wide-fiber-optic-network-signed-with-converge|website=YugaTech {{!}} Philippines Tech News & Reviews|access-date=August 15, 2019|date=August 18, 2017}} and continues to expand its coverage across the country.

Converge ICT competes with PLDT and Globe Telecom as providers of fiber-to-the-home broadband Internet, in their respective areas of coverage. As of March 2022, it has around 1.8 million subscribers, all of whom are in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=October 30, 2020 |title=Converge ICT says 9-month revenue growth up 67 pct following stock exchange debut |language=en |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/10/30/20/converge-ict-says-9-month-revenue-growth-up-67-pct-following-stock-exchange-debut |access-date=November 27, 2020}}

Affiliate companies

Pacific Kabelnet Holdings - owns Converge Vision (Metro Manila) and FiberTV (provincial areas)
Reliance Broadcasting Unlimited - owner of UFM 105.5 and PEP TV