Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21) — Filipinos can expect better WiFi connection through the subsea cable project between Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. and Singapore’s Keppel Telecommunication and Transportation, Inc.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday welcomed the partnership between the two internet service providers.
“I just finished a meeting with the Converge group who have tied up with the Keppel group to put in a submarine fiber optic cable from the West Coast of the United States. It will connect to the Philippines and it will also connect to Singapore and Indonesia and this will again give us bigger bandwidth,” Marcos said.
The chief executive added that the more than 15,000-kilometer Bifrost Cable System Project was the result of his visit last year to Singapore, where he watched the F1 Grand Prix.
“Habang nanunood kami ng karera, pinag-usapan namin ito kaya’t ngayon nabuo na at ilalagay nila, isasama nila ang Pilipinas doon sa kanilang mahabang fiber optic na kable na galing sa California, galing sa West Coast ng Amerika, hanggang Pilipinas, hanggang Singapore, hanggang Indonesia.”
[Translation: We discussed this while we were watching the race, and this has been finalized and they will now include the Philippines in the long fiber optic cable from California, in the US West Coast. This will also reach Singapore up to Indonesia.]
Marcos’ visit had drawn flak as it happened while the country reeled from Super Typhoon Karding.
Under the “definitive agreements” it entered into with Keppel in 2021, Converge has been granted an Indefeasible Right of Use for one fiber pair on the main trunk of the Bifrost Cable System.
The project is expected to be completed by 2024.
