NOW Telecom Company Inc., an affiliate of listed NOW Corp., said Friday it has partnered with the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for the development and deployment of its stand-alone 5G mobile and fixed wireless network in the Philippines.
In a news release, NOW Telecom said it signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with USTDA at the Fifth Annual Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Tokyo, Japan, on January 12.
The LOI was signed by USTDA director Enoh Ebong along with NOW Telecom chairman and CEO Mel Velasco Velarde.
Under the LOI, the USTDA, a foreign assistance agency of the US government that connects the US private sector to infrastructure projects in developing and middle-income countries, has agreed to provide a grant to NOW Telecom to fund technical assistance (TA) and a 5G pilot network launch to support the company’s 5G deployment.
NOW Telecom said the TA will provide the company with the necessary analysis, designs, and plans for phased implementation of the project and conduct a 5G pilot network at multiple sites in Metro Manila to validate network performance, test 5G use cases, and provide data to inform larger-scale deployment.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency sponsored the Forum in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the American Association of the Indo-Pacific.
SOURCE: GMA NETWORK
- United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken;
- Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo;
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi;
- Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura;
- US Ambassador Rahm Emanuel;
- U.S. Trade and Development Agency Director Enoh T. Ebong;
NOW Telecom Company Inc. has secured funding from the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for the development of 5G technology as it seeks to improve connectivity services in the country.
The associate of listed NOW Corp., in a disclosure on Friday, said the grant would finance the wireless telephony network project using 5G technology to “advance critical digital infrastructure projects” in the country.
NOW is taking on this project, which is seen to support its mobile and fixed wireless network, with 5G technology firm Nokia of America and research innovator Nokia Bell Labs.
The initiative includes the design of a national 5G wireless network, design and planning of a nationwide broadband network and design and implementation of a pilot 5G network in Metro Manila.
Capex
Mel Velarde, NOW Group chair and founder, said they were aiming to initially shell out P1.2 billion in the next two years to fund expansion. The listed company earlier shared it was in talks with investment banking groups that would help raise funds via debt or equity markets.
The additional stations are being eyed in Mega Manila to cover gaps in its services. It currently has 50 base stations, which are mostly in Metro Manila and the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region. INQ
SOURCE: INQUIRER
Listed telecommunications services provider NOW Telecom Co. Inc. said Friday it secured a grant funding from the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for technical assistance to advance critical digital infrastructure projects in the Philippines.
In a statement, NOW Telecom said that USTDA, an independent agency of the US government, approved its grant request.
The grant amount was not disclosed.
The telco said the grant will fund the technical assistance (TA) for the development of “Wireless Telephony Network for the Philippines using 5G Technology.”
The TA includes three major components: design of a national 5G wireless network, the design and planning of a nationwide broadband network, and the design and implementation of a pilot 5G network in Metro Manila.
SOURCE: GMA NETWORK
NOW Corp. announced that it has signed a multiyear agreement with Aboitiz’s LIMA Land Inc. for NOW to provide broadband internet service Fiber Air in the Lima Industrial Estate.
LIMA Estate is a mixed-use development zone with 140 locators, 167 commercial shops and over 2,000 residences, and is home to the country’s largest privately-owned industrial park.
Per the agreement, the services will be available to all locators within the 800-hectare industrial estate, its retail and other establishments
The partnership aims to transform the property into a smart, next-generation and future-ready economic center to further drive investments, create jobs and spur economic growth not only in Batangas but in the whole Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region.
“Like our parent firm Aboitiz, LIMA Estate always looks forward to working with new technology partners. This partnership with NOW and the deployment of NOW Fiber Air in our estate provides more options for our locators for better internet connectivity,” Clifford Academia, vice president for operations of LIMA Estate, stated.
Henry Andrews Abes, president and chief executive officer of NOW Corp., also said they are excited to work with the Aboitiz Group as it plans on bringing new technologies that can fast track the digital infrastructure agenda of the current administration across all markets.
LIMA Land Inc. said it also plans to construct a 30-hectare central business district that will comprise BPO (business process outsourcing) firms, office towers, schools, health care facilities, hotels and civic centers.
The industrial estate’s most prominent current venues at the moment are The Outlets at Lipa, LIMA Exchange and LIMA Park Hotel with other prospective developments, such as the LIMA Tower One, slated to launch soon.
Source: The Manila Times
THE planned partnership between Now Telecom Inc. and the US government would further boost the Velarde-led telco firm’s expansion of 5G services in the Philippines.
NowTel has been engaged with the United States, through USTDA for the deployment of 5G technologies in the country.
The US Embassy earlier said that the US government intend to partner with Philippine telecom operator Now Telecom for the deployment of 5G technologies in the Philippines,
“The partnership will provide faster and more reliable digital services and increased broadband internet access for Filipinos countrywide,” it added.
Now was the first to introduce pre-5G broadband speed of up to 2 gigabits per second to enterprise clients. The company also extend the service to the residential and consumer markets through fixed wireless access and mobile cellular devices.
Now Telecom earlier signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with SBA Towers Philippines Inc., a unit of NASDAQ-listed firm SBA Communications Corp., to install equipment to provide telecommunications and internet services. The agreement is part of the roadmap of the NOW Group to provide 5G or the fifth generation wireless network technology that will allow the delivery of up to 20 gigabit per second speed to enterprises and homes.
In a related development, NOW Corp. entered a multi-year collaboration with Aboitiz’s LIMA Land Inc. to supply multimedia solutions such as broadband internet services branded NOW Fiber Air.
NOW Fiber Air will be extended to all locators within the LIMA Estate, an 800-hectare property, including its retail establishments and other bordering towns. LIMA Estate is a mixed-use development zone with 140 locators, 167 commercial shops, and over 2,000 residences. LIMA is home to the country’s largest privately-owned industrial park.
Clifford Academia, vice president for Operations of LIMA Estate said the partnership with NOW and the deployment of NOW Fiber Air in its Estate provides more options for the company’s locators for better internet connectivity.
“This partnership with LIMA Estate solidifies NOW’ position of providing quality and reliable broadband internet connectivity access especially to the enterprise market. Specifically, our relationship with the Aboitiz group has been strong starting off with Union Bank as our major client and then with LIMA Estate,” Henry Andrews Abes, president of NOW said.
“We are excited to work with the Aboitiz Group in bringing new technologies to fast track the digital infrastructure agenda of the current administration across all market,” he added.
Source: Malaya Business Insight
Now Telecom Inc. on Friday confirmed talks with the US government to roll out 5G technologies to provide faster and reliable broadband Internet access in the Philippines.
The telecom company owned by the Velarde family said it engaged with the United States, through the US Trade and Development Agency for the deployment of 5G technologies in the Philippines.
The US Embassy earlier said the US government planned to team up with telecom operator NowTel on 5G deployment to “provide faster and more reliable digital services and increased broadband internet access for Filipinos countrywide.”
NowTel was the first to introduce pre-5G broadband speed of up to 2 gigabits per second to enterprise clients. The company also plans to extend the service to residential and consumer markets through fixed-wireless access and mobile cellular devices.
NowTel also signed a memorandum of agreement with SBA Towers Philippines Inc., a unit of NASDAQ-listed firm SBA Communications Corp., to install equipment to provide telecommunications and internet services.
The agreement was part of the roadmap of the NOW Group to provide 5G or the fifth generation wireless network technology that will allow the delivery of up to 20 gigabit-per-second speed to enterprises and homes.
NOW Corp. also signed a multi-year collaboration with LIMA Land Inc. of Aboitiz Group to supply multimedia solutions such as broadband internet services branded NOW Fiber Air.
NOW Fiber Air will be extended to all locators within the LIMA Estate, an 800-hectare property, including its retail establishments and other bordering towns.
LIMA Estate is a mixed-use development zone with 140 locators, 167 commercial shops and over 2,000 residences. LIMA is home to the country’s largest privately-owned industrial park in Batangas.
Clifford Academia, vice president for operations of LIMA Estate, said the partnership with NOW and the deployment of NOW Fiber Air in its estate, would provide more options for the company’s locators for better internet connectivity.
“This partnership with LIMA Estate solidifies NOW’ position of providing quality and reliable broadband internet connectivity access especially to the enterprise market. Specifically, our relationship with the Aboitiz group has been strong starting off with Union Bank as our major client and then with LIMA Estate,” NOW president Henry Andrews Abes said.
“We are excited to work with the Aboitiz Group in bringing new technologies to fast track the digital infrastructure agenda of the current administration across all market,” he said.
Source: Manila Standard
Aboitiz InfraCapital, a unit of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, has tapped NOW Corporation to provide broadband internet services in its LIMA Estate in Batangas.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, NOW said it has established a multi-year collaboration agreement with Aboitiz’s LIMA Land, Inc. enabling NOW to supply multimedia solutions such as broadband internet services.
This service will be extended to all locators within the LIMA Estate, an 800-hectare property, including its retail establishments and other bordering towns.
LIMA Estate is a mixed-use development zone with 140 locators, 167 commercial shops, and over 2,000 residences.
Its new initiatives include a 30-hectare Central Business District that will comprise BPO firms, office towers, schools, healthcare facilities, hotels, and civic centers.
The Estate’s most prominent current venues are The Outlets at Lipa, LIMA Exchange and LIMA Park Hotel. Other prospective developments, such as the LIMA Tower One, are slated to launch soon.
NOW said this partnership is a strategic move from Aboitiz InfraCapital as it sets to transform LIMA Estate into a smart, next-generation and future-ready economic center to further drive investments, create jobs, and spur economic growth not only in Batangas but in the whole CALABARZON region.
“Like our parent firm Aboitiz, LIMA Estate always looks forward to working with new technology partners,” said Aboitix InfraCapital Vice President for Operations of LIMA Estate Clifford Academia. He added that, “This partnership with NOW and the deployment of NOW Fiber Air in our Estate provides more options for our locators for better internet connectivity.”
“This partnership with LIMA Estate solidifies NOW’s position of providing quality and reliable broadband internet connectivity access especially to the enterprise market,” said NOW Corporation President and CEO Henry Andrews Abes. He noted that, “Specifically, our relationship with the Aboitiz group has been strong starting off with Union Bank as our major client and then with LIMA Estate.”
“We are excited to work with the Aboitiz Group in bringing new technologies to fast track the digital infrastructure agenda of the current administration across all markets,” Abes added.
Source: Manila Bulletin
4 October 2022
Manila, Philippines
PUBLICLY-LISTED company NOW Corp. announced on Monday its plan to acquire a substantial equity ownership in Newsnet, as part of its thrust to grow, consolidate and beef up its core business.
“The Board of Directors has just approved the resolution to authorize the management of NOW Corp. to begin negotiating for acquisition of equity ownership in Newsnet. And this is very strategic on our part because Newsnet is an affiliate but NOW Corp. does not own any equity interest in Newsnet,” NOW Chairman and Founder Mel Velarde told reporters during the company’s press briefing in Mandaluyong City.
“Our dream is a minimum of 20 [percent of equity ownership] and a maximum of 100 [percent] over time,” he said, while citing their target of completing the negotiation before end of the year, either through direct investment, share swap, and preferred shares, etc.
The acquisition will be subject to applicable approval from regulatory agencies and government bodies.
Newsnet has an authority from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to install, operate and maintain in the 25.35 Ghz to 26.35 gigahertz (Ghz) spectrum band Local Multi-Point Distribution System (LMDS) to deliver interactive pay television (TV) and multimedia services in Metro Manila and parts of Luzon, North Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
This move to acquire Newsnet will upgrade NOW Corp.’s existing fiber network to 5G – 26 Ghz to deliver interactive pay TV and multimedia services, laying the foundation for the intensive synergy with its affiliate Now Telecom Company, Inc. The latter has the license to operate nationwide mobile telphony services not specific to 3G, meaning including 5G and Satellite direct to mobile devices, homes and enterprises.
“The potential acquisition of NOW Corp. of NEWSNET achieves two objectives. First, the increase of capacity from 2.4 Gbps per existing base station to 9Gbps, an almost 500 percent increase. This gigabit capacity shall be enjoyed by residential, enterprise and vertical markets,” said Francis Xavier L. Manglapus, vice chairman of NOW Corp.
“Second is the increase of area coverage over Metro Manila, currently in 50 market areas and expanding in some of parts of South Luzon, North Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.”
According to NEWSNET Chairman Rene Rosales the need for larger capacity and higher speeds with better latency is expected to increase over time.
Meanwhile, NOW Corp., Now Telecom and Newsnet with Now Cable Inc., signed a memorandum of agreement creating a common digital infrastructure for internal, private, and public sector’s use.
“The NOW Group of Companies together will build a digital infrastructure for its internal requirements and optimize the network’s performance and also leverage on our shared resources,” Velarde said.
Author: Roderick Abad
Source: BusinessMirror
21 July 2022 Manila, Philippines
NOW Telecom Company, Inc. (NOW Telecom), together with affiliate and listed firm NOW Corporation (NOW Corp) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) together with SBA Towers Philippines, Inc., a subsidiary of SBA Communications Corporation, a NASDAQ-Listed firm focused on providing tower infrastructure and other shared infrastructure in the Philippines. The parties are in discussion and negotiating the lease of buildto-suit sites, towers, and passive telecommunications infrastructure and facilities that will be made available for the installation of NOW’s facilities and equipment to provide telecommunications and/or internet services.
This is part of the roadmap of the NOW Group of providing 5G or the fifthgeneration wireless network technology which will allow the delivery of up to 20 gigabit per second speed to enterprises and homes.
“It is an integral policy in NOW Group’s roadmap to partner with trusted vendors that are part of the Clean Network. We look forward to working with SBA Towers Philippines whose expertise is providing support to operators like NOW to achieve our vision,” says NOW Telecom President and COO Engr. Rene L. Rosales.
SBA Towers Philippines, Inc. is registered with the Department of Information & Communications Technology as an independent tower company.
SBA Communications Corporation is a leading independent owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure including towers, buildings, rooftops, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and small cells that operates in sixteen markets throughout the Americas, Africa and in the Philippines.
NOW Telecom is a public telecommunications entity with a 25-year congressional franchise to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain wire and/or wireless telecommunications systems and a holder of a cellular mobile telecommunications system (CMTS) license granted by the National Telecommunications Commission. It is one of only four cellular mobile license holders apart from SMART, Globe Telecom, and Dito Telecommunity.
NOW Telecom is a public telecommunications entity with a 25-year congressional franchise to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain wire and/or wireless telecommunications systems and a holder of a cellular mobile telecommunications system (CMTS) license granted by the National Telecommunications Commission. It is one of only four cellular mobile license holders apart from SMART, Globe Telecom, and Dito Telecommunity.