‘Converge fiber network to support Sky Cable rebirth’

SKY Cable Corp. and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. have entered into a commercial agreement to upgrade Sky’s services and improve the overall customer experience for its subscribers.

Under the partnership, Sky Cable will leverage Converge’s extensive fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network, which spans 700,000 kilometers with more than eight million ports.

This, according to Sky Cable Chairman Mark Lopez, will allow Sky to provide better services to its customers.

“Converge has built a superior state-of-the-art fiber network nationwide that Sky customers will soon experience,” he said.

For Converge, the arrangement presents an opportunity to maximize its network capacity and increase port utilization.

“This will be a revenue boost for Converge consistent with similar arrangements with other players as we are able to continue to monetize further our excess network capacity,” Converge President and Co-founder Maria Grace Uy said. Converge CEO and Co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy, who has a background in cable television, expressed optimism about supporting Sky’s transformation.

“I’m really excited that we are able to help Sky, the leader in the cable business, in its own transformation program by providing them the latest optical fiber technology,” he said.

Beyond the network upgrade, Sky Cable’s transformation program will also focus on increasing operational efficiency, enforcing greater financial discipline, and implementing organizational improvements.

“We believe that this is the best way to move forward and stay focused on delivering superior customer experience,” said Carlo Katigbak, president and CEO of ABS-CBN Corp.

The company’s chief executive noted that Converge hopes to replicate this partnership with other players.

“We hope to replicate this business model and encourage other players to do the same. This is really all part of the mission of Converge to bring world-class connectivity to all Filipinos and leave no one behind in this digital age,” he said.

Converge has been interested in acquiring Sky since the latter failed to sell its business to PLDT Inc. in February.

To recall, PLDT attempted to buy Skycable in 2022 when its subsidiary Cignal Cable Corp. proposed a P2.86billion investment in the Lopez-led cable TV operator.

In 2023, the Pangilinan-led telco entered into a share and purchase agreement with Sky Vision Corp., ABS- CBN, and Lopez Inc. to acquire their shares in Skycable for P6.75 billion.

The deals did not push through due to competition issues.