ETPI pushes for leadership in Internet broadband technology

Eastern Telecommunications Phils. Inc. (ETPI) has boosted its bid to be the industry leader in Internet broadband technology and capacity by upgrading its Internet gateway capacity to the global Internet to 135 mbps.

These include a 45 mbps connection to the Asian region via Reach of Hong Kong and two 45 mbps connection in the US to Cable & Wireless and Concert.

"Our increased broadband capacity will enable us to meet the growing demands of the market even better. We now have fully redundant links running in different cable systems," ETPI chief operating officer Angelo C. Molato said.

Molato noted that the company has the biggest link to the Asian region ensuring that regional transactions are effectively supported by the Eastern Telecoms service.

"The primary source of growth comes from our broadband customers," ETPI vice president for the Internet business unit Joevel Rivera said.

He pointed out that many companies are now shifting to broadband and they see the service of Eastern Telecoms as one of the most reliable and stable in the industry.

"Our fiber-optic network in Makati, Ortigas, and Manila differentiates our service in the market. As our nodes are already in the buildings, we can provide service quickly and robustly. The high-speed access actually changes the way our customers are using the Internet. It has already become an integral part of their business life and strategy," Rivera added.

Meanwhile, the top rate program, "Sharon" hosted by television and movie personality Sharon Cuneta will pioneer a first in TV and local Internet history when it broadcasts this Jan. 6 via the Internet using the technology provided by Bitstop Computers and Internet hosting facility ETPI.

Filipinos all over the world, including overseas workers, will have a chance to see Sharon Cuneta live during the program via the Internet.

Stormviz and Bitstop have agreed to do the pilot webcast of the show in time for the actress’ birthday. Bitstop will be using Eastern Telecoms’ server collocation service for this event.

Bitstop Computers is the biggest Internet Service Provider (ISP) in northern Luzon while Storm Visualization & Imaging (Stormviz) provides clients dynamic ways of communicating and sharing their ideas over the Internet.

The program will be broadcast via the web using a new technology called webcasting. Bitstop is using the webcasting technology to convert the show into digital format and transmit the same over the world wide web. Eastern Telecoms is hosting the streaming server in its collocation facilities and has provided the bandwidth to deliver the content to the Internet.

According to Rivera, "the webcasting technology exploits the power of the Internet in delivering information wherever and whenever. With the growing popularity of broadband Internet access, very soon, more shows such as this can be shown and seen via the web."

In addition to webcasting, Bitstop and Eastern Telecoms are also streaming the broadcast of several local radio station via the web. This gives listeners their medium of choice for tuning into their favorite radio program.

Eastern Telecoms is the country’s pioneer in Internet broadband technology, being the first to offer in the market asymmetric digital subscriber lines (ADSL) and Gigabit Internet service, the country’s first high bandwidth capacity infrastructure that eliminates the last mile bottleneck for corporate Internet users.

It is also the premier provider of Internet access to the major ISPs and top corporations in the Philippines. Its Internet network boasts of a fully redundant Internet backbone, riding on a fiber ring technology to ensure the latest in technology and reliable service for its customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.