For a long time, having stable internet was considered a benchmark of digital readiness. But today, it’s the bare minimum.
More businesses in the Philippines are discovering that internet access alone can no longer keep up with how fast the world is changing.
As industries shift toward automation, digital payments, remote operations, and hybrid customer service, the real question becomes: what else do you need beyond connectivity?
In an exclusive interview with PhilSTAR Tech, Eastern Communications Chief Revenue and Innovation Officer Edsel Paglinawan described connectivity as the essential backbone of modern business operations.
“But nowadays, with the transformation that’s happening around, and the new business models of the market, as they offer that to the customers, are also changing,” he said.
Paglinawan would know. With over 20 years in the telecom and ICT industry, he has helped shape Eastern Communication’s evolution from a traditional telco into a full-service digital solutions provider.
His work focuses on translating emerging technologies into business-ready tools, tailored for the realities of Philippine enterprises.
It’s a shift he’s seen firsthand. As businesses evolve, so do their digital demands. Today, the internet is just the starting point. What matters now is what runs on top of that connection: cloud services, cybersecurity, collaboration tools, and real-time customer experiences.
Paglinawan likens connectivity to a highway. “You have to have a good highway. But aside from that, you need different ICT tools in order to make the journey more enjoyable.”
Building for resilience and scale
So, where does connectivity stop being sufficient?
Paglinawan points to the shift in everyday behaviors. Online shopping, cloud banking, social media marketing, e-commerce fulfillment as examples of use cases that go far beyond bandwidth.
“Online shopping does not only require connectivity,” he explained.
Online activities now demand more than basic connectivity, requiring added layers like cloud solutions and security measures on both devices and networks.
“I was hit on Instagram by this Taobao ad saying it’s the new Amazon. I tried it and got a wrist strap for P300. On Amazon it would cost me P2,000,” he said with a laugh.
He noted that while it was a small personal purchase, it reflected a larger shift in how systems and consumer behavior are evolving.
That shift is happening across industries, especially in finance. According to Paglinawan, less than 5% of his banking transactions now require him to go to a physical branch.
This is where Eastern Cloud, their locally hosted platform, comes in. This was launched in 2019.
So, when the pandemic hit and importing servers became difficult, businesses already had a reliable, homegrown option with secure, high-quality facilities.
He emphasized that connectivity is a critical driver for business growth, from enabling remote work to supporting digital banks and scaling online marketplaces.
“The real-time engagement necessitates quality connectivity that we have to always ensure. Because customers expect instant responses via social media and even chatbots and even live support,” He said.
Moreover, Eastern Communications continues to build differentiated solutions for different sectors. For banks, cybersecurity is front and center.
Paglinawan described how DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks can flood a bank’s internet pipe and bring the system down entirely.
To support uptime and performance, Eastern Communications offers SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network), which reroutes traffic between multiple connections depending on performance.
“You don’t have to subscribe to two premium internet. In a way, because of that solution, we’re helping the bank. Aside from the resiliency and redundancy, we’re helping them to cut their costs,” He said.
From product selling to outcome mapping
However, Eastern Communications’ shift isn’t just technical, it’s philosophical. Paglinawan and his team now push for an outcome-first mindset.
“So, we all operate based on business outcomes. What is the business outcome we’re promising to our customer?” He asked rhetorically.
This approach is deeply embedded in how Eastern trains and communicates with its people.
“When I talk to our account managers and product teams, the language is always about business outcomes. Not products,” he said.
Still, not all companies are ready to embrace ICT transformation, and that’s okay, he emphasized.
“The question really is: ‘Can I afford ICT?’ And my recommendation is a one-liner: Think of ROI rather than cost,” he said.
He advised businesses to look for the right guidance, whether through consultants or service providers, who can help them plan and bring their projects to life.
Eastern Communications, with over 140 years of history, has seen this shift firsthand as one of the country’s oldest telecommunications companies.
It has evolved from providing telegraph services to becoming a fully integrated ICT solutions provider, offering connectivity, cloud, cybersecurity, and digital tools for government, enterprises, and MSMEs.
