EasyCall Brings Connectivity to Remote PH Areas
EasyCall Communications Philippines Inc. (PSE: ECP), now led by Zaki Delgado, continues to focus its efforts on data communications and satellite technology to bring connectivity to far-flung Philippine provinces.
EasyCall, who soared to market leadership in the 1990s as a top provider of pagers, has since shifted direction after the onset of SMS and text messaging in the 2000s. From its active involvement in the IT-BPO industry over the past decade, it has turned to Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology to bridge the digital divide in the country.
VSAT is a two-way satellite communications system that can transmit and receive data via remote terminals or hubs. Over the past few years, EasyCall has developed expertise and infrastructure in an effort to provide opportunities for inclusive growth through access to reliable connectivity and internet access in unserved and underserved areas around the country.
“The need for connectivity is more important than ever, and we feel the responsibility to open up that possibility to millions of Filipinos who have limited connectivity access,” Delgado says.
Acquired by Philippine-owned Transnational Diversified Group in 2001, EasyCall is a telecommunications company that is licensed by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). Delgado was named president of the company in mid-2017.
Over the years, it has rolled out its EasyNet VSAT managed service to underserved and unserved provincial communities in Samar, Quezon, Iloilo, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Leyte and Antique, and is currently setting up VSAT installations in Zambales, Negros Occidental, Cavite, Bicol, Isabela, Iloilo and Cebu as part of its efforts to continue to improve the digital landscape of the Philippines.
“There is a critical demand for connectivity in far-flung cities and municipalities, especially in the aftermath of disasters and emergencies, for businesses with remote offices, and for efficient access to services. Despite the complexities we are facing with the terrain and climate [of the Philippines], VSAT can effectively deliver secure and reliable connectivity to these places, and enable progress and development,” Delgado adds.
The road to a fully connected and inclusive Philippines is still a long way away, but EasyCall is determined to do its part to make it a reality.