SkyCable launches high-speed Net packages

Sun.Star Cebu <> Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

IN response to the clamor for faster Internet access, the Cebu unit of a national cable company launched last week high download speed packages of up to 12 megabytes per second (mbps) in Cebu.

The Lopez-owned SkyCable Corp. already tested SkyBroadband plans in Manila last year and went full blast last January.

Last Oct. 1, SkyCable Cebu began offering these packages to its cable subscribers in the province and received “encouraging” feedback, said SkyCable area director for the Visayas Ronnie Pacio in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu.

Instead of using phone lines, SkyBroadband uses SkyCable infrastructure to connect to the Internet. Cable lines can carry more data and offer higher bandwidth.

SkyBroadband packages include Plan 1.5 mbps (with monthly subscription fee of P1,199), Plan 3 mbps (P2,499), Plan 6 mbps (P4,999), and Plan 12 mbps (P6,999).

Pacio said that their highest plan is four times faster than any residential DSL (digital subscriber line).

The total initial payment for Plan 1.5 mbps and Plan 3 mbps is P2,199 and P3,499, respectively, due to the P1,000 cable modem deposit upon installation. Cable modem is free under Plans 6 mbps and 12 mbps.

All plans are covered by a one-year lock-in period.

Installation for all packages is free.

Users of SkyBroadband Plan 1.5 mbps and Plan 3 mbps will also get P175 discount on their P675 monthly SkyCable subscription fee. The two higher speed packages are product bundles that include both Internet access and free SkyCable subscription.

All SkyBroadband packages-considered as SkyCable’s value-added service-are exclusive to its cable subscribers in selected Cebu areas in Banawa, Banilad, Cabancalan, Cebu Business Park, Consolacion, Capitol Site, Guadalupe, Labangon, Lapu-Lapu City, Mabolo, Ma. Luisa Estate Park, Mandaue City, P. Del Rosario in Cebu City, and Talamban.

“The highest speed of DSL plans being offered by other broadband providers is only 3 mbps. SkyBroadband packages ensure faster connections and less time consumption. Users can do many things on the Internet in one (sitting),” said Pacio.

He added that they already have nearly 1,000 SkyBroadband subscribers who are coming from the middle- and high-income brackets.

Pacio said that when the company has enough funding, they will expand to more areas until they can cover the entire Cebu.

Since March 2008 when SkyCable Cebu offered its first cable Internet called ZPDee, the company has allocated around P30 million to upgrade its plant for its broadband project.

Pacio said that one-third of this P30 million is not yet spent since they are still waiting for equipment from Manila to further upgrade its plant’s capacity and be able to cover more areas in Cebu.

After SkyBroadband is established in Cebu, SkyCable Cebu is planning to bring the digital signal to the province next year as part of its strategy to shift its technology from analog to digital and offer affordable packages to more price-sensitive markets. NRC

Filed under: Business, Education, Fun/Entertainment, IT/Computers/Software Development, Small and Medium Enterprises, broadband, Internet, SkyBroadband, SkyCable

Investing in IT good for firms

Sun.Star Cebu <> Wednesday, July 1, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

INFORMATION technology (IT) players urged companies to invest in more efficient IT infrastructure that will boost productivity and enable them to stay competitive.

Cebu Educational Development Foundation for IT (Cedf-it) executive director Bonifacio Belen said IT should be considered a “driver of growth” and the assembly line for further innovation.

While IT in companies has progressed from management information system to business support system, Belen observed that many business owners still provide a meager budget and attention to IT infrastructure.

Lope Doromal Jr., IBM Innovation Network-Philippines client technical adviser and chief technologist, raised the need for businesses to cope with the demands of today’s “smarter planet,” which is characterized by an “instrumented, interconnected and intelligent” market that is heavily exposed to communication gadgets, Internet and new information.

“Is your business in the position today to serve in a smarter planet?” he asked participants in the IBM Business Reality Summit at Cebu City Marriott Hotel last week.

“Building a Smart Pla-net” is a campaign launched by IBM late last year.

Doromal advised businesses to consider four key areas—new intelligence or information; smart work or flexible and dynamic business process; dynamic infrastructure; and eco-friendly systems—to cope with the demands of the market.

Evenard Marquez, IBM Philippines technical solution architect for integrated communications, said IBM offers solutions to help companies cut costs, improve IT performance, and thrive in this new, smarter planet.

He said that IBM also offers an assessment methodology that will evaluate the current IT system of a company and identify cost savings before carrying out solutions that would support a dynamic IT infrastructure.

Chestnut Andaya, IBM Philippines country manager for general business, observed that a growing number of businesses are being drawn into using IT to cope with the effects of the global financial crisis.

In Cebu, the bulk of IBM costumers are engaged in manufacturing, retail and utilities. IBM has been present in Cebu since 1974.

Filed under: Business, IT/Computers/Software Development

PLDT exec keeps investment plan for Cebu medical tourism facility

Sun.Star Cebu <> Thursday, June 11, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

A SUBSIDIARY of First Pacific Co. Ltd., which owns a significant stake in the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), continues to eye Cebu as a potential investment area for medical tourism.

However, since it made an announcement in June last year to invest in a hospital in Cebu, Metro Pacific Resources Inc. has not yet finalized talks or set a target date and location for the facility.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of First Pacific and PLDT, said in a news conference Tuesday in Makati that this does not mean the company has dropped its interest to seek a local partner and build a medical facility in Cebu.

When asked about his interest in the Cebu City Medical Center, which he visited in September last year, he said there is “no update yet.” Pangilinan’s plans for a retirement village for medical travelers, which would be linked to a hospital, have not moved as well.

“We are looking at three hospitals in the Visayas and Mindanao.

We have no target yet in Cebu, although we have already been approached by one owner. We’re looking at this (development),” he said.

Pangilinan declined to disclose the names of the hospitals, saying that owners “might be sensitive” to having their business deals made public while talks are still ongoing.

Metro Pacific has share-holdings in the Makati Medical Center and the Davao Doctors’ Hospital.

Apart from Cebu, Pangi-linan said Metro Pacific is also eyeing investments in hospitals in Pampanga, Bacolod, Davao, Zamboanga and Iloilo, which are considered “prime markets” for medical tourism.

Favorite

“Metro Pacific is investing on hospitals. If there is an adjunct or collateral investment in medical tourism, Cebu (would be) a perfect candidate because it is one of the principal tourist destinations in the country. That would be good (for hospital operations). But our principal focus is hospitals,” said Pangilinan.

Pangilinan said that Metro Pacific is not inclined to invest in tourism-related facilities, like hotels. “(That is) out of (our) line,” he added.

He pointed out that PLDT and its subsidiary, Smart Communications Inc., are looking at more investment opportunities in Cebu’s growing business process outsourcing industry.

Pangilinan announced last year that instead of buying shares and investing in existing hospitals with established client base, the Metro Pacific plans to build a new hospital in Cebu sometime this year as none of the existing ones are up for sale.

Part of the plan is for Metro Pacific to invest P1.5 billion while its Cebu partner will provide the land for the Cebu hospital that will be designed with spa-like facilities and 300 beds.

In an interview last year, Pangilinan said the hospital project in Cebu would cater to local residents, balikbayans and major tourist markets, including Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, China and the US.

He added that Metro Pacific plans to have the medical facility accredited by international insurance companies.

Aside from its interest in telecommunications and medical care, the First Pacific group is working on a P20-billion investment in power distribution company Meralco, which it expects to clinch next month. When this is done, Pangilinan said he will focus other potential investments like Mimosa in Pampanga.

Filed under: Business, Health and Wellness, IT/Computers/Software Development, Real Estate, Tourism

Telco raises capex for ’09

Sun.Star Cebu <> Thursday, June 11, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

AMID the global financial crisis, the country’s biggest telecommunications service provider is “pragmatically optimistic” about its prospects this year.

As an indication of its optimism, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) is planning a capital expenditures (capex) level of P27 billion this year, which is P1.8 billion more than that of 2008.

PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said the amount will be used for the deployment of network and information technology infrastructure to support “new generation, media-rich broadband services.”

PLDT president and chief executive officer Napoleon Nazareno said that the telco’s 2008 capex level also reflected the company’s confidence in the country, which is sustained this year.

“We are looking beyond the near-term uncertainty and positioning for the long-term when the global situation stabilizes,” Nazareno said during the PLDT’s annual stockholders meeting last Tuesday.

In his message to shareholders, Pangilinan said this year’s capex includes the replacement of the nationwide cable network with high-speed data-grade facilities, which will be capable of delivering voice, video and data services more efficiently when combined with the new generation all-Internet protocol switches.

Infra work

“Our capex budget will also support the further deployment of Smart’s high-speed packet access network that will make mobile broadband more pervasive,” he said.

Last year, 66 percent of the P25.2 billion capex was spent for the PLDT group’s wireless business, 31 percent for fixed line, and three percent for the information and communications technology (ICT) business.

PLDT reported an eight-percent increase in its core net income to P38.1 billion in 2008. This surpassed the company’s growth expectation of five percent or P37 billion for the same year.

Nazareno said this growth is driven by the five-percent increase in consolidated service revenues, a six-percent rise in
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and a 14-percent decrease in financing costs.

Pangilinan said core net income increase was also made possible by “continued growth of the company’s wireless business, the steady performance of fixed line operations, and the robust growth of broadband, both on the wireline and wireless platforms.”

Navarro said that PLDT delivered “another solid performance” in 2008 despite difficult economic conditions brought about by the global economic turmoil.

Strategy

To ride out the economic storm in 2008, Pangilinan said the company implemented a four-pronged strategy to optimize its existing voice and text-based businesses, build its data and broadband operations, and sustain investments in information
technology-based network infrastructure while keeping cash operating expenses under check.

“The solid performance of PLDT in 2008 and the increasing bias in consumer spending preferences towards our products and services provide some cheer to our prospects this year.

Accordingly, we have given our core profit guidance to lie north of P40 billion for 2009,” Pangilinan said in a speech during the stockholders’ meeting.

This year, Nazareno said PLDT will continue to contain costs, raise efficiencies, and optimize revenues and profits as it continues to invest in the future “to ensure that the country has the communications infrastructure and services it requires to recover from this crisis.”

In 2008, PLDT’s service revenues and EBITDA grew five percent to P142.9 billion and six percent to P87.6 billion, respectively.

“We did not, however, escape completely unharmed from the effects of the crisis. Reported net income, after reflecting exceptional losses netted off against exceptional gains, decreased by four percent to P34.6 billion,” Pangilinan said.

He attributed this to asset impairments in the information and communication technology business and a net foreign exchange loss due to large fluctuations in the peso-dollar exchange and interest rates.

PLDT’s free cash flow remained “strong” at P47.9 billion. Its debt position is also considered “extremely sound,” ending 2008 with a net debt of approximately P800 million.

“Our healthy financial position has enabled us to declare 100 percent dividend payout of core earnings for the second consecutive year.

Filed under: Business, Fun/Entertainment, IT/Computers/Software Development

SM Cebu launches free Wi-Fi as added customer service

-By Nancy R. Cudis

SM City Cebu is giving its shoppers more reasons to regularly visit the mall. Apart from the ample convenient parking spaces and a wide range of tenants, SM City Cebu is now equipped with wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) connection that the management is giving to visitors and shoppers for free.

Very exciting, really, since this added customer service would allow those with Wi-Fi capable devices to conveniently access the Internet wherever they are within the mall’s premises, including the carpark.

Last week, the mall’s management launched the free Wi-Fi, simultaneously with the SM malls in Iloilo and Bacolod. This brings, as of July 31, 2009, a total of 13 SM malls nationwide with free Wi-Fi since it was first installed in SM Marikina last February. The aim of SM management is to have all the 36 SM malls in the Philippines offering free Wi-Fi service by October this year.

The unveiling of the new service in SM City Cebu was covered by various media outlets, including the Cebu Bloggers Society whose two members (Sinjin Pineda and Jose Farrugia) won contest prizes (Congratulations, guys!). The launching featured initial availability of the free Wi-Fi connection at SM City Cebu Northwing Atrium and Cyberzone. Last Tuesday, the entire mall is already covered by this new service.

You might wonder, though, the ability of the connection to accommodate a huge volume of foot traffic coming to SM City Cebu. A management-issued assurance was given: the free Wi-fi, which is provided for by Internet service provider Philippine Global Communications Inc. (PhilCom), has a bandwidth capacity of 8 mbps. This means that the service could accommodate 200 users simultaneously or approximately 1,000 users per day.

Since not all have Wi-Fi capable mobile phones and laptops (not yet, I mean) and since the average 100,000 to more than 200,000 daily foot traffic of SM City Cebu does not come all at the same time in a day, the connection would still be enough for one to access the Internet while on the go. At the same time, Internet cafe tenants like Netopia would still have the ability to accommodate shoppers who are more into gaming and who lack Wi-fi capable devices.

It’s a pretty neat set-up, especially when the free Wi-Fi in itself would attract shoppers, give them added convenience to access their Facebook counts (hehehe), increase foot traffic, grow the market for mall tenants, and potentially increase revenues for both the mall and the tenants. No matter how you turn the tables, everyone benefits.

Besides, Wi-Fi is not the only thing. SM City Cebu will open a 500-seater IMAX Theater in the fourth quarter this year. This, for sure, would be another mall project worth looking forward to.

Personally, I am curious to find out the views of SM City Cebu’s direct competitors about these new and upcoming services…. But I guess this would be another plan for another day.

Filed under: Business, Fun/Entertainment, IT/Computers/Software Development

Auto dealer, school ink training program for students, teachers

Sun.Star Cebu <> Tuesday, June 2, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

MITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corp. and its authorized dealer Fast Autoworld Philippines Corp. designed a program to enhance and upgrade the theories, skills and competencies of automotive instructors at the Cebu State College of Science and Technology (CSCST).

Under the program called Industry Immersion of Automotive Technology Instructors of CSCST, the college will send automotive technology instructors as faculty-trainees and its graduating students as on-the-job trainees (OJTs) in Mitsubishi’s facilities.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines will provide venue and training to faculty-trainees on various competencies, including automotive electricity and electronics, electronic-controlled fuel inject, engine overhauling and performance testing, automatic transmission, and powertrain, among others.

At the same time, Fast Autoworld will help CSCST improve its training center.

The three institutions signed an agreement last week at Fast Autoworld Philippines Cebu office and showroom in Mandaue City.

Upgrade

“There is a need to upgrade their knowledge now that we are using high-tech automotive technology, such as laptops or computers in troubleshooting (cars),” said Matronillo Zamora, Fast Autoworld general manager for parts and service.

The program will accommodate a total of 12 trainees—members of CSCST faculty and OJTs—every year.

Every course for the faculty-trainees will run for a week while OJTs will undergo training for 10 months or an equivalent of 1,800 hours.

“This is a good (length of time) because the students will become skilled (technicians). At the same time, we are grooming them to become service advisers,” said Fast Autoworld human resource manager Flordeliza Tangpus.

She said the company is keen on getting OJTs from among students of four-year Industrial Technology course with emphasis on automotive technology.

“CSCST is not necessarily exclusive to Mitsubishi since they also provide OJTs to other car manufacturers. But we want to be given priority and their top students,” she said.

Student-trainees who perform well are guaranteed to find work at Mitsubishi Motors Philipines after they complete their studies.

Fast Autoworld Philippines Corp. will also give out a Mitsubishi Excellence Award to deserving outstanding automotive graduates.

Possible career path for these OJTs, said Zamora, is from technician to lead man to service adviser and, eventually, to service manager.

He lamented, however, that many skilled automotive technicians prefer to work in Australia, Singapore or Canada.

Filed under: Business, Education, Fun/Entertainment, IT/Computers/Software Development

DTI backs creative industry sector, sees need for it to organize, develop

Sun.Star Cebu <> Thursday, May 28, 2009

BY NANCY R. CUDIS, Sun.Star Staff Reporter

STAKEHOLDERS have intensified efforts to formalize the creative sector in Cebu to strengthen the industry that has helped
kept the province “afloat” amid the global financial crisis.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu Provincial Director Nelia Navarro pointed out, though, that the move to formalize the sector must be initiated by private individuals and entrepreneurs engaged in the creative industry.

“We want our creative people to form and own their group rather than have the government tell them what to do. We want them to determine the direction of the industry. Along the way, we—from the government—will support and help them,” she said.

Navarro said a formal creative organization in Cebu will enable players to identify weak links or challenges in the industry’s value chain and address them immediately.

It will also give the sector a “face” and the opportunity to develop itself eventually as a “business service provider” to whom potential clients and investors are referred to by private and public agencies like DTI, she said.

In a recent roadmapping workshop organized by the DTI and German Technical Cooperation-Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (GTZ-Smedsep) at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel, more than 25 creative core players—writers, filmmakers, architects, musicians, graphic artists, designers and visual artists, among others—and creative entrepreneurs expressed support to formalize the creative industry.

Stakeholders expressed concerns on the need to organize sub-sectors for the industry—broad as it is—as well as to create more business opportunities, establish additional infrastructure and provide more support for research and development.

Participants of the workshop, like Ivan Kintanar of Studio2Solutions and Buck Richnold Sia of Zscape Development Corp., lauded the effort to formally organize the creative sector, saying this will be an opportunity to develop new talents needed by the industry.

“Cebu is not only good in furniture, fashion and accessories.

We are also good in architecture, graphic arts, film, music (and) literature, among many others. It takes a collaborative effort to find the people involved in these sectors. Many (people) want to work in the creative industry but they lack mentorship to push them to do more,” said Sia, adding that a formal creative organization can help address these concerns.

“The more effort we exert to make known the collaboration between Cebuano artists and entrepreneurs, the more business opportunities and jobs we create,” said Kintanar.

Filed under: Business, Entrepreneurship, Export Sector, IT/Computers/Software Development, Small and Medium Enterprises, Tourism