Airborne Access, ePLDT BliNK merge

Airborne Access and ePLDT BLiNK, the country’s pioneer Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) service providers, recently joined forces to form the largest Wi-Fi company in the Philippines.

Jay Fajardo, chief executive officer of Airborne Access, said the merger creates a major force that would aggressively deliver the wireless Internet experience to the Filipino mobile workforce.

"Both companies are happy with this development as the local and global adoption of Wi-Fi is fast gaining ground. Our ultimate goal is to make the wireless Internet as pervasive as possible in Metro Manila and eventually nationwide," Fajardo said.

Airborne Access promises to reach a total deployment of 30 hotspots in 30 days, and 60 hotspots in 100 days. Both companies already have a combined footprint of 21 hotspots spread throughout Metro Manila and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Wireless hotspots are public areas where mobile Internet users can get connected to high-speed Internet using the Wi-Fi technology.

Wi-Fi hotspots have become increasingly popular with major laptop and PDA manufacturers offering built-in Wi-Fi technology in their products.

Airborne Access and ePLDT BLiNK have been deploying Wi-Fi hotspots since early 2002. With Airborne Access now operating as an ePLDT company, the merger makes sure that the Philippines is in step with this revolutionary method of accessing the Internet.

"Although initial market adoption was strongest in the United States and Europe, Asia now has the fastest growing number of wireless hotspots with South Korea leading the region with 8,500 hotspots," Fajardo said.