KT proceeds with fiber optic network construction with Philippine ISP
Scheduled for the northern part of Luzon Island, the largest island in the Philippines.
KT has signed a large-scale fiber optic network construction contract with a local operator in the Philippines. With this, KT has secured a foothold for entering the Southeast Asian market.

KT announced that it has signed a contract worth 53 billion won for the construction of an optical cable network commissioned by Converge ICT Solutions Inc., an Internet Service Provider (ISP), in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. The signing ceremony was attended by officials from both companies, including KT Vice President Yoon Kyung-rim, Head of the Global Business Promotion Office, and Converge Chairman Dennis Anthony H. Uy.

This project is part of Converge's nationwide network construction project to expand coverage across the Philippines. KT is undertaking the construction of a fiber optic cable network spanning approximately 1,570 km in the northern region of Luzon Island, the largest island in the Philippines and home to about half of the country's total population, and will install fiber optic cables and communication conduits along major urban areas and arterial roads. KT plans to use domestically produced materials for the construction of the optical cable network in this project and strengthen mutual growth by entering the global market together with excellent domestic small and medium-sized enterprises.

KT was able to win this project thanks to its experience in successfully constructing over 5,500 km of fiber optic cables in overseas markets, including Myanmar and Bangladesh. Based on its accumulated know-how, KT plans to execute the project by applying a design optimized for the terrain of the Philippines. Furthermore, through the successful construction of the fiber optic cables, the company intends to seek additional collaboration opportunities in various future convergence fields, such as smart energy, enhancing corporate and public value, and disaster and safety sectors.

Due to its geographical characteristics consisting of over 7,000 islands, the Philippines' internet speeds and telecommunications service environment have been relatively poor compared to neighboring countries. Once the construction of the fiber optic cable network in the Luzon region is completed, Filipino citizens will be able to use home internet more conveniently.

Currently, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is striving for the development of ICT at the national level, including establishing the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and actively promoting e-government projects. In line with this, KT is strengthening cooperation with the Philippine government to pursue various projects.

"This project is a great opportunity to showcase KT's technological capabilities not only in the Philippines but also across neighboring countries through our network design, construction, and operation technologies," said Yoon Kyung-rim, Executive Vice President and Head of KT's Global Business Promotion Office. "KT will continue its efforts to promote Korea's status as an ICT powerhouse."