InfiniVAN Inc., a Congressional telco franchise holder with a nationwide fiber optic backbone network infrastructure, and Royal Cable Corp., a CATV/ISP operator, formally aligned their service visions through a strategic partnership in the maximum utilization of their respective network assets. The collaboration was solidified during a contract signing ceremony held on Feb. 26th at the Nex Tower Penthouse in Makati.
The agreement facilitates the service area expansion of a non-Congressionally franchised operator by utilizing underutilized portions of InfiniVAN’s fiber optic backbone. Without having to build its own backbone network from scratch, Royal Cable is now able to quickly build middle- and last-mile network segments in order to provide homes and businesses with reliable internet access beyond its previous service area coverage as a CATV/ISP operator.
The signing event was graced by Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda, who has championed the passing of RA 12234 and fast-tracked the crafting of the corresponding implementing rules and regulations (IRR) in order to give smaller players a relatively level playing field in taking advantage of burgeoning opportunities in the ISP (internet service provider) market.
This collaboration accelerates the development of digital infrastructure in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s mandate for reliable and affordable internet. It fully supports the President’s advocacy to bridge the digital divide by removing infrastructure barriers, ensuring infrastructure sharing, and expanding connectivity to underserved, remote areas. Fostering a competitive, modern digital economy remains the primary driver of the agreement. InfiniVAN and Royal Cable are anchoring a future of “Walang Iwanan sa Digital Bayanihan” and fostering a society where no one is left offline.
The signing event was attended by key executives from both parties: InfiniVAN president Shigeki Nakahara and chief finance officer Valenbert Juan, alongside Royal Cable president Dennis Lazaro and chief revenue and operating officer Dr. Omar Salvador Galang. They were joined by the First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan to the Philippines, Isowa Koji, who envisioned a bright future of continued technological and cultural exchanges between Japan and the Philippines and the integration of Japanese best practices in the broadband services industry to serve the Filipino people better.
