Publicly listed information and communications technology industry trailblazer NOW Corporation has launched a program that will democratize business opportunities in the sector by partnering with small and medium-sized businesses and even entrepreneurial individuals.
The company is partnering with local entrepreneurs and local government units, initially in Northern and Southern Luzon, to bring NOW’s technology to a particular area whether for horizontal deployment such as for barangays and wide area network, or for vertical deployment such as for office buildings.
Dubbed as NOW Virtual Network Operator (NVNO), NOW’s business partnership model gives exclusive distributorship rights to the company’s broadband service to a local partner over a particular area, or preferably in one of the 35 priority cities in North and South Luzon which NOW has identified.
An MVNO is a mobile operator that does not own its own network but instead leases wholesale capacity from an existing mobile operator and its network infrastructure and resells the bandwidth to its own end-clients. It is a proven formula to propagate telecommunications in other countries including the US.
Previous attempts by one telecom company to use the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in the Philippines have failed due to extremely high transactional fees being charged by the telecom firm to the MVNO.
But NOW Corp. president and CEO Mel Velarde emphasized that they are aiming to inject renewed energy to the failed MVNO attempts by its predecessors and will seek to correct the shortcomings. To do this, Velarde said they vow to adopt a transparent cost structure, adopt a shared vision as well as technological and execution risks, and a clear shared wealth through revenue sharing.
In late 2015, NOW Corp. and its telecommunications arm NOW Telecom launched Fiber in the Air, a fixed wireless broadband internet service that provides guaranteed broadband internet for enterprises with a capacity of 2.4 gbps. Since then, NOW Corp. has forged partnerships in Mega Manila with more than 200 building properties with a two–kilometer radius area coverage.
According to Velarde, fixed wireless connectivity is the way to go not only here but worldwide. In fact, US companies such as Verizon, AT&T and even Google Fiber are pursuing wireless deployment, he noted.
He explained that unlike traditional fixed broadband which requires companies to run cables to individual homes, offices, or buildings, fixed wireless uses radio waves to beam internet connectivity to multiple locations from a single site, thus allowing data delivery in a more cost-efficient way as well as faster end-user connection.
NOW Corp. has chosen to adopt fixed wireless as its initial mode of deployment in penetrating Mega Manila. Velarde stressed that Metro Manila is around 622 square kms and given the density of the area where electric poles and underground fiber optic are a logistical nightmare.
Velarde said airwaves, which is being used by telcos to deliver broadband via wireless, belongs to Filipinos, and therefore, it is but right for everyone to benefit not just in terms of technological application but also in economic benefits. Thus, the company has opened its doors to business partners in terms of distributing the service to a certain area of territory.
The business partnership is exclusive for five years with a revenue-sharing model that provides the partner with a healthy return on investment. The business partner will select the area, hire and manage sales people in order to sell the product, take care of selling and marketing the service, install the service to end-subscribers, assist NOW in identifying a possible hub where broadband capacity can be terminated, and ensure on-time payment by the subscriber,
Meanwhile, NOW will provide the business model, over-all sales and marketing support on the national and local levels, sales training, and will also provide collecting and billing as well as state-of-the-art devices to deliver broadband internet solutions.
A major requirement in selecting business partners is that the latter must be a resident of the chosen territory, must have a business in the area, and must have strong local influence.
Velarde also noted that local governments may also utilize fixed wireless to deliver broadband connectivity to public spaces as a form of public service. NOW can install its equipment in any government-owned building such as hospitals or city halls and distribute the broadband capacity to each building.
In February 2018, NOW Telecom was granted a 25-year renewal of its tri-mega franchise, allowing the firm to deploy a wide array of telecom services utilizing new technologies including fixed wired, fixed wireless, mobile cellular, and even satellite internet via outer space.
NOW Corp. is the number one business partner of IBM in providing cyber-secured collaboration solutions and IT services. Its clients include those with hypercritical IT systems such as banks (BDO, China Bank), the Supreme Court, and Golden Arches.
Source: https://technology.mb.com.ph/2019/04/30/now-democratizes-telco-opportunities/
Publicly listed tech firm Now Corporation has launched a program which it claimed will democratize business opportunities in the sector by partnering with small and medium-sized businesses and even entrepreneurial individuals.
The company is partnering with local entrepreneurs and local government units, initially in Northern and Southern Luzon, to bring Now’s technology to a particular area whether for horizontal deployment such as for barangays and wide area network, or for vertical deployment such as for office buildings.
Dubbed as Now Virtual Network Operator (NVNO), Now’s business partnership model gives exclusive distributorship rights to the company’s broadband service to a local partner over a particular area, or preferably in one of the 35 priority cities in North and South Luzon which Now has identified.
An MVNO is a mobile operator that does not own its own network but instead leases wholesale capacity from an existing mobile operator and its network infrastructure and resells the bandwidth to its own end-clients. It is a model also used in other countries including the US.
Globe Telecom previously deployed the MVNO model in the Philippines with ABS-CBN Mobile as a partner, but this failed allegedly due to high transactional fees being charged by the telecom firm to the MVNO.
Now Corp. president and CEO Mel Velarde said that they are aiming to inject renewed energy to the failed MVNO attempts by other telcos and will seek to correct the shortcomings.
To do this, Velarde said they vow to adopt a transparent cost structure, adopt a shared vision as well as technological and execution risks, and a clear shared wealth through revenue sharing.
In late 2015, Now Corp. and its telecommunications arm Now Telecom launched Fiber in the Air, a fixed wireless broadband internet service that provides guaranteed broadband Internet for enterprises with a capacity of 2.4 gbps. Since then, Now Corp. has forged partnerships in Mega Manila with more than 200 building properties with a two-kilometer radius area coverage.
According to Velarde, fixed wireless connectivity is the way to go not only here but worldwide. In fact, US companies such as Verizon, AT&T and even Google Fiber are pursuing wireless deployment, he noted.
He explained that unlike traditional fixed broadband which requires companies to run cables to individual homes, offices, or buildings, fixed wireless uses radio waves to beam internet connectivity to multiple locations from a single site, thus allowing data delivery in a more cost-efficient way as well as faster end-user connection.
Now Corp. has chosen to adopt fixed wireless as its initial mode of deployment in penetrating Mega Manila. Velarde stressed that Metro Manila is around 622 square kilometres and given the density of the area where electric poles and underground fiber optic are a logistical nightmare.
Velarde said the company has opened its doors to business partners in terms of distributing the service to a certain area of territory.
The business partnership is exclusive for five years with a revenue-sharing model that provides the partner with a healthy return on investment. The business partner will select the area, hire and manage sales people in order to sell the product, take care of selling and marketing the service, install the service to end-subscribers, assist Now in identifying a possible hub where broadband capacity can be terminated, and ensure on-time payment by the subscriber,
Meanwhile, Now will provide the business model, over-all sales and marketing support on the national and local levels, sales training, and will also provide collecting and billing as well as state-of-the-art devices to deliver broadband internet solutions.
A major requirement in selecting business partners is that the latter must be a resident of the chosen territory, must have a business in the area, and must have strong local influence.
Velarde also noted that local governments may also utilize fixed wireless to deliver broadband connectivity to public spaces as a form of public service. Now can install its equipment in any government-owned building such as hospitals or city halls and distribute the broadband capacity to each building.
In February 2018, Now Telecom was granted a 25-year renewal of its tri-mega franchise, allowing the firm to deploy a wide array of telecom services utilizing new technologies including fixed wired, fixed wireless, mobile cellular, and even satellite Internet via outer space.
Source: http://newsbytes.ph/2019/04/28/now-corp-deploying-virtual-network-operator-model-in-luzon/
Publicly listed information and communications technology industry trailblazer NOW Corporation has launched a program that will democratize business opportunities in the sector by partnering with small and medium-sized businesses and even entrepreneurial individuals.
The company is partnering with local entrepreneurs and local government units, initially in Northern and Southern Luzon, to bring NOW’s technology to a particular area whether for horizontal deployment such as for barangays and wide area network, or for vertical deployment such as for office buildings.
Dubbed as NOW Virtual Network Operator (NVNO), NOW’s business partnership model gives exclusive distributorship rights to the company’s broadband service to a local partner over a particular area, or preferably in one of the 35 priority cities in North and South Luzon which NOW has identified.
An MVNO is a mobile operator that does not own its own network but instead leases wholesale capacity from an existing mobile operator and its network infrastructure and resells the bandwidth to its own end-clients. It is a proven formula to propagate telecommunications in other countries including the US.
Previous attempts by one telecom company to use the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in the Philippines have failed due to extremely high transactional fees being charged by the telecom firm to the MVNO.
Transparent cost structure
But NOW Corp. president and CEO Mel Velarde emphasized that they are aiming to inject renewed energy to the failed MVNO attempts by its predecessors and will seek to correct the shortcomings. To do this, Velarde said they vow to adopt a transparent cost structure, adopt a shared vision as well as technological and execution risks, and a clear shared wealth through revenue sharing.
In late 2015, NOW Corp. and its telecommunications arm NOW Telecom launched Fiber in the Air, a fixed wireless broadband internet service that provides guaranteed broadband internet for enterprises with a capacity of 2.4 gbps. Since then, NOW Corp. has forged partnerships in Mega Manila with more than 200 building properties with a two-kilometer radius area coverage.
According to Velarde, fixed wireless connectivity is the way to go not only here but worldwide. In fact, US companies such as Verizon, AT&T and even Google Fiber are pursuing wireless deployment, he noted.
He explained that unlike traditional fixed broadband which requires companies to run cables to individual homes, offices, or buildings, fixed wireless uses radio waves to beam internet connectivity to multiple locations from a single site, thus allowing data delivery in a more cost-efficient way as well as faster end-user connection.
Listed technology firm NOW Corp. is seeking more partners to aid in the roll out of its telecommunications business.
The company said in a statement it was keen to partner with entrepreneurs and local government units in Northern and Southern Luzon under a Virtual Network Operator arrangement.
This will allow distributors to ride on NOW’s telco infrastructure—hastening the roll out of its fixed wireless service across the target areas.
“NOW’s business partnership model gives exclusive distributorship rights to the company’s broadband service to a local partner over a particular area, or preferably in one of the 35 priority cities in North and South Luzon which NOW has identified,” the company said.
NOW president and CEO Mel Velarde said other companies had attempted to launch telco services using this format but were unsuccessful.
In the case of NOW, it will use a “transparent cost structure, adopt a shared vision as well as technological and execution risks, and a clear shared wealth through revenue sharing.”
In late 2015, NOW Corp. and its telecommunications arm NOW Telecom launched Fiber in the Air.
NOW said a major requirement in selecting business partners was that the latter must be a resident of the chosen territory, must have a business in the area and must have strong local influence.
Source: https://business.inquirer.net/269216/now-corp-seeks-local-distributors-of-network-services
NOW Fiber Air, a fixed wireless broadband service of NOW Corp. has attracted believers and supporters of its guaranteed Internet connection. The service caters to businesses and buildings (residential or commercial) and can supply 10Mbps to 2.4Gbps of broadband connection – this is done by installing an antenna at the building’s roof top. Unlike other broadband services, NOW Fiber Air commits to their clients a monthly minimum bandwidth.
The NOW Champions
The huge clamor and interest from eager supporters of NOW Fiber Air materialized into a partnership with the company. As a result, this developed an official name for the group – NOW Champions. Under this partnership, “Champions” are given revenue-share by offering NOW Fiber Air to their employer, company building, residential building and even community.
On October 30, 2018, the partnership bore it’s first signed broadband contract with Vimana Verde Residences, a condominium located in Pasig City. This was made possible with the help of “Champion”, Chris Magadia, a structural engineer and Founder of CMECS.
“I am a firm believer of NOW’s Fiber Air technology because of the guaranteed speed it provides which allows me to deliver overseas projects. Its service allows me and my staff to work from home at any convenient time. Now’s Fiber Air is perfect in today’s ever changing business landscape where products and services can be accessed and delivered anywhere in the world with minimum resources. I am glad to have found NOW Fiber Air.”
Want to be a NOW Champion? Send an email to marcom@now-corp.com
Consistent, uninterrupted internet connectivity has now become an integral part of one’s everyday life. It is a vital ingredient in running a successful business that has become as essential as electricity and water.
Personal communications rely heavily on online apps and services, while many businesses can barely run without software systems that power operations.
Enterprises that handle customer transactions or those that constantly need to exchange big data files are heavily dependent on internet connection.
You do not want a client to start losing interest in your presentation while waiting for you to download files and wrestle with slow internet speed.
For each of these scenarios, the need for a robust internet connection that is reliable, available, high-speed, and guaranteed is vital. For each of these scenarios, one is apt to say: “Kailangan ng matinding connection dyan!”
Switch to Fiber Air
However, many areas in the Philippines continue to suffer problems arising from slow and intermittent internet connection, which has been a constant headache for a lot of enterprises and building management.
There’s no need to stay in such a problematic situation.
A growing number of enterprises, commercial buildings and residential buildings in many parts of Metro Manila are now enjoying the benefits of fiber speed connection. Their secret? NOW Fiber Air – fiber internet transmitted through the air – an advanced technology that already sees wide use in most first-mover countries.
As Mel V. Velarde, President and Chief Executive Officer of NOW Corporation, puts it: “The era of uninterrupted, unshared and unfiltered broadband internet has arrived.”
Stress-free connection
NOW Corporation, has been the prime mover of Fiber Air internet services since 2015. It promises 99.999% reliability for a stress-free connection with no data cap – no limit to your chosen bandwidth. You get what you signed up for and what you paid for, every time, 24×7.
NOW Fiber Air is a fixed wireless access (FWA) carrier-grade network using pre-5G technology. It uses a compact radio antenna that can withstand storms and can deliver up to 2.4 Gbps speeds – meeting the demands of the modern digital economy. This is perfect for enterprises, commercial buildings and high-end residential buildings.
It offers less risk in service “cuts” because all that’s required is a clear line of sight. Other internet service providers require fiber optic cable, which often suffers from “connection cuts” due to diggings and laying out of cable underground or via electric poles.
NOW Corporation has now connected over 200 buildings, enterprise clients and government agencies, and this number continues to grow. In addition, NOW Telecom, NOW Corp’s telecom arm, holds a tri-mega telecom franchise and a nationwide Cellular Mobile Telephony System (CMTS) license which allows the firm to operate a mobile cellular business.
Customer satisfaction
For many businesses where fiber is too costly or unavailable, NOW Fiber Air’s quick-to-install wireless option is ready for activation in as fast as one week. It is not only quick to set up, it is also quick to dismantle. If the business moves location, the network easily goes with it, as long there is a line of sight.
Satisfied customers are singing praises for NOW Corp.’s reliable, high quality and guaranteed speed internet service. NOW Corp. services various industries from conglomerates to media, hospitals, academic institutions, government agencies, hotels, and commercial buildings.
“Our goal in Bellagio Residences is to upgrade dorm living into a lifestyle; a comfortable, spacious, secure and dignified environment for students in pursuit of academic excellence,” says Bellagio Residences owner Leoncio Gosiaco. “With NOW, we are a notch higher and our residents can be assured of broadband connection not just anytime, but every time.”
WorkHaven Space, which provides office suites, is impressed with NOW’s Fiber Air speed. “With Fiber Air, you get the internet speed they committed plus a great collaboration package,” says General Manager Reynold Ki.
“The addition of NOW Network to our hospital operation has benefited our patients in more ways than we expected. With most hospital records, lab results and medical care documentation digitized, we were able to improve our speed and efficiency,” says Engineer Manuel L. Umali, IT Manager at Metropolitan Medical Center. “Our patients are also provided broadband access via wi-fi hotspots so they can receive the emotional support they need by being connected with their loved ones 24/7 through video calls and social media.”
NOW Corp. has also enabled Sta. Isabel College to catch up with other academic institutions around the world with its access to guaranteed internet speeds.
“Learning is now beyond the four walls of the classroom and only with high-speed connection can our students and teachers take advantage of online learning tools, web-based rich content and research resources available in the Internet,” says John Paul Enriquez, the school’s MIS Manager. “NOW Network gives us the assurance of consistent connectivity which is great because there is no room for down time in education.
Get the Fiber Air guarantee
Fiber Air customers have spoken. Join the NOW Fiber Air network and enjoy our promise: The speed you need guaranteed.
NOW Corp. has great offers exclusive for building and enterprise clients. NOW Fiber Air plans provide its customers with guaranteed high-speed broadband connection. This also unlocks access to technologies that are data dependent such as cloud computing, disaster recovery, cyber security, email, and collaboration.
To check if your company or building can benefit from this service, the NOW Fiber Air team can conduct a property survey to see if the technical specifications are met. Interested building owners and enterprise businesses can go to http://www.nownetwork.ph/fiberair or call 02-2711072.
FacebookTwitterGoogle+Share
NOW Corporation, a telecom, media and technology listed firm in the Philippine Stock Exchange, just upgraded their current wireless broadband equipment.
The company upgraded its equipment to increase it’s capacity to 400% since they started their broadband business back in 2015. This upgrade was done as preparation for the huge demand of that will come from future and existing customers.
From the 700Mbps the new equipment upgrade is now able to service up to 2.4Gbps. More than to meet the demand of their customers though, the company also aims to help facilitate the creation of smart cities.
A few weeks ago, they also officially introduced the upgrade to their Association of Building Managers of Ortigas Center, Inc. (ABMOCI). There were talks with 40 building managers on how to use digital technologies for the development and modernization of the Ortigas Central Business Districts. The managers were also introduced to the service of GuaranteedBroadband Connection and high-level IT Services.
Listed technology company NOW Corp. announced the capacity upgrade of its wireless broadband service amid strong demand.
The company, among those that had signaled its interest to participate in the government’s third telco initiative, said it had upgraded its equipment capacity by 400 percent.
It added that from 700 megabits per second, its customers can now avail themselves of internet speeds of up to 2.4 gigabits per second.
NOW, which launched its broadband service three years ago, said it was targeting so-called smart cities and business districts around the country.
“Digital transformation is becoming a buzz word. However, infrastructure is key in order to provide digital services to the enterprise community. NOW Corp is in the best position to serve this market as we also provide IT services across industries,” Kristian Pura, head of Business Development and Strategy, said in a statement.
“We’re currently talking to top global telecom suppliers so that we are able to introduce new products in order to cater to the needs of a wider market. With this fixed wireless access (FWA) that we have deployed in Metro Manila and with the recent upgrade of our network, we can position ourselves first in the market to roll out next-generation networks in the near future. FWA is not new in the telecom world. US telecom giants Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and even Google Fiber all use FWA to deploy the last mile to end customers,” he added.
NOW markets its broadband services under NOWFiber Air. New enterprise customers include the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Phoenix Publishing, MyTown Properties, Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, and Prudential Guarantee and Insurance Inc.
NOW also provides a slew of IT services. Its clients include BDO, SM Retail, ChinaBank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Phinma Group of Companies and Golden Arches
Source : https://business.inquirer.net/257076/now-upgrades-broadband-service
NOW Corporation CEO Mr. Mel Velasco Velarde among some senior high school students, pose for posterity with School Principal Dr. Amelita De Mesa, NCR-Manila City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Jenilyn Rose Corpuz, and iCollege of the Philippines Managing Director Mr. Pierangelo Alejo.
July 2018, Manila, Philippines
Listed firm NOW Corporation (PSE Ticker: NOW) launches its Corporate Social Responsibility program that provides worthy institutions with the necessary tools for Digital Transformation. Among the company’s first recipient is M.G. Araullo High School located at the corner of U.N. Avenue and Taft Avenue. A simple ceremony dubbed as “M.G. Araullo High School Digital Transformation Project: Free Broadband & IT Services” took place, graced by the school principal Dr. Amelita De Mesa, City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Jenilyn Corpuz, iCollege of the Philippines’ Managing Director Mr. Pierangelo Alejo, and NOW CEO Mr. Mel Velasco Velarde. The event was attended by more than 400 senior high school students, teachers and officials of the school.
M.G. Araullo High School, founded in 1906, was selected recently as a recipient of NOW Corporation’s Community Development and Social Responsibility program. The program aims to equip educational centers with broadband internet, access to educational content via NowPlanet.TV, first slots availability for students interested to take Visual Graphic Design NC-III at iCollege of the Philippines and its Responsible IT Education program, and other digital transformation tools such as website development where they can upload digital courseware for e-learning.
In the speech of Mr. Velarde as a statement of support, who also grew up in Pedro Gil, Manila, he inspired the students and teachers with his commitment not only to the digital transformation of the school but also to the desired individual transformations as well. Mr. Velarde is concurrently the Chairman of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, a 30-year old Journalism and Communication educational center that offers graduate courses in Journalism and Communication.
NOW Corporation is a listed firm in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE Ticker: NOW) and is in the business of telecom, media and technology. It is the number one business partner of IBM and have deployed IT systems across industries including banks, government agencies, retail, logistics and insurance. In 2016, NOW launched its broadband and wireless cable TV service covering Metro Manila, delivering guaranteed broadband speeds to customers. To date, NOW Corporation has reached more than 150 locations already activated, delivering ‘Fiber in the Air’ service to enterprise customers which includes hospitals, hotels, government agencies, BPOs and many more.
The ceremony was highlighted by a ceremonial signing of a deed of donation between Mr. Velarde and M.G. Araullo High School’s Dr. De Mesa.
14 August 2018, Manila, Philippines — NOW Corporation (PSE Ticker: NOW) has just released its half year performance with compelling results starting with gross revenues that increased 29%, from Php68.10 million to Php87.38 million.
This PSE-listed Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) firm posted its net income which soared by 158%, from Php2.26 million to Php5.82 million during the same period in 2017.
The Company’s Fiber in the Air broadband business surged by 104.88%, delivering gross revenues of Php20.01 million versus Php9.77 million of the same period as last year. The Software Licenses and Technical Services segment likewise grew by 34.97%, with gross revenues increasing from Php37.84 million to Php51.07 million, year-on-year.
“We continue to provide the needs of the enterprise market with guaranteed broadband internet coupled with robust IT solutions and manpower services. Our internet business has been a key growth driver due to NOW’s unique positioning as the only broadband provider that commits guaranteed minimum speeds 24×7. Soon, we will enter the high-rise residential buildings and villages that pass our technical criteria. Our software licenses, IT technical services and IT manpower have also been in a growth trajectory,” says Kristian Pura, Head of Business Development and Strategy of NOW Corporation.
“We recently began upgrading our network capacity by 400% to prepare for the huge demand of our existing and new broadband subscribers in Metro Manila. We will also introduce new IT products & services for the enterprise market which include Artificial Intelligence, Business Automation, Integrated Collaboration and Cloud Services. This is in collaboration with our global technology partners like IBM and Microsoft,” Pura added.
NOW Corp’s expansion strategy will be further supported by the issuance of up to 10 million preferred shares, amounting to Php1.00 billion. The Company already secured a pre-effective clearance from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Follow-On Offering of the Company’s Preferred Share Issuance is currently with the Philippine Stock Exchange for approval. Proceeds shall be allocated to the expansion of the Company’s broadband business.