Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is making significant strides in serving the low-income class in the region’s urban centers. The ISP has reported a remarkable doubling of its subscriber count for the fiber prepaid product, Surf2Sawa (S2S), quarter-on-quarter as of the first quarter of 2023.
The S2S prepaid fiber internet product was launched earlier today in Tondo, Manila — one of the top urban settlements served by Converge. The community event took place at the Sandiwaan Center, located near Smokey Mountain.
“In Metro Manila, we are elated to see S2S prepaid fiber internet being the home broadband product of choice in dense communities in the City of Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, and Taguig. This is a sign that these urban settlements are leveraging our pure fiber connectivity to augment their livelihood and answer their entertainment, social, and even financial needs. We are glad to enrich the digital lives of these neighborhoods and in our own way, help their socio-economic development,” according to Dennis Anthony Uy, Converge CEO and Co-Founder.
The S2S offering has been enthusiastically embraced in Metro Manila’s urban centers due to its ability to cater to the connectivity needs of low-income families. Initially introduced in November 2022, S2S quickly expanded its presence to more than 400 cities and municipalities across the country. As of the end of March 2023, the number of S2S subscribers nearly doubled quarter-on-quarter, and the product is on track to reach 120,000 subscribers by year-end. At present, S2S serves customers in 554 cities and municipalities spanning Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Converge’s success in critical urban areas can be attributed to its innovative business model, which involves recruiting sales agents from within the community to act as retailers, thus providing essential livelihood opportunities to these neighborhoods.
The Surf2Sawa prepaid fiber-to-the-home plan offers various top-up options, with prices as low as PHP50 for a one-day service and up to PHP700 for a 30-day unlimited connectivity plan, which has been widely popular among subscribers. The modem accompanying the plan allows concurrent usage for up to six (06) devices and provides an average speed of 25 Mbps. With over eight million ports deployed across the country as of March 2023, Converge is well-positioned to capitalize on this prepaid opportunity with its expansive digital infrastructure.
In a commendable display of corporate social responsibility, Converge demonstrated its commitment to socio-civic development by supporting the Sandiwaan Center for Learning in Tondo, Manila. The educational institution, a values-based non-profit organization founded in Smokey Mountain in 1982, aims to enhance the quality of education in the community. The center currently serves almost 200 preschool students and nearly 100 out-of-school youths through its alternative learning system in the surrounding slum areas.
In collaboration with Fr. Benigno Beltran, SVD, in Paradise Heights, Tondo, Converge contributed to the refurbishment and connectivity upgrade of the Sandiwaan Center. Employee volunteers from Converge, led by the Workplace and Premises Management department, cleaned up the center and even adorned it with a mural.
As part of the community launch of Surf2Sawa prepaid fiber internet in Tondo, Converge generously donated twenty (20) learning tablets to the center’s students, providing them with essential tools for online learning. The children and their parents were invited to a joyous gathering at the center, where Converge organized a short program filled with fun and games to celebrate the new broadband internet service.
With its commitment to providing affordable and reliable connectivity solutions to underserved communities and its dedication to uplifting education through social initiatives, Converge ICT Solutions Inc. continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the digital landscape and empowering the future of the Philippines.