KDDI, SoftBank and SpaceX considering Philippine broadband options

GMA News writes that a number of international companies are considering setting up shop in the Philippines’ broadband market, with officials confirming that talks are underway with the likes of Japanese carriers KDDI Group and SoftBank Group Corp, as well as Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The paper cites a regulatory filing (16 February) in which publicly listed DFNN Inc., a leading IT solutions and systems integrator, confirmed comments from its chairman Raymon Garcia that a meeting took place with the Japanese firms. ‘The meeting was also attended by other Filipinos and our Executive Chairman was quoted as a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands,’ the disclosure read, suggesting that both are interested in entering the local market possibly as ‘a major investor’. Meanwhile, in a separate filing, ISP Converge ICT Solutions confirmed it was considering a partnership with Musk’s SpaceX unit as earlier reported by Bilyonaryo.com and the Inquirer. ‘Converge Information Communications Technology Solutions Inc. wishes to clarify that the company is always looking for new technologies to bring high speed internet services to the broadest number of Filipinos,’ it said. ‘The latest satellite technologies, including that of Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX), are among those new technologies being explored by Converge to bring high speed broadband to far-flung areas in the country,’ it clarified.