Telco firm sets P2.8-B upgrade budget for 2021

Eastern Communications, a company jointly owned by PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom, announced a nationwide upgrade program with a capital spending budget of P2.8 billion this year.

It said in a statement on Wednesday the expansion plans will cover Davao City, Cagayan De Oro, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran, Bacolod, Roxas, Kalibo, Caticlan, Boracay, Naga, Legazpi, Iriga and Sorsogon provinces.

“Eastern Communications has started laying fiber optic cables to address requirements of companies in central business districts and has placed strategic hubs in various regional locations in order to better serve the local enterprises in the area,” the company said in a statement.

It said a new area of growth was the government’s “digital cities” program, which it said would promote countryside development.

Eastern said network modernization projects started in 2020 despite the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. This included its expansion in Iloilo and Tuguegarao.

“Eastern will continue this trend and we plan to be available nationwide in the next few years,” Aileen Regio, Eastern communications coordinator, said in the statement.

“This is an exciting time of growth for all of us and we, as a telecommunications company, look forward to being a big part of the Philippines’ stronger tomorrow,” she added.

Eastern was among the companies acquired by PLDT and Globe in 2016 after the two joined forces to buy conglomerate San Miguel Corp.’s telecommunications assets.