Dr. Aranal shows IP Star’s internet kiosk in Planas, Porac, Pampanga.
Photo by Joey Pavia
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A Makati City-based firm and its foreign partners vowed to invest at least $15 million in one to two years that will allow internet connection in remote areas in the country.
IPSTAR Solutions Philippines Corp. (IP Star) Star President and CEO Dr. Joey Aranal and some 120 investors, most of whom are from Asia, opened on Saturday the state-of-the-art satellite internet E-Kiosk project in Barangay Planas, Porac, Pampanga. Arnal disclosed that their partners are from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, China and Malaysia.
Arnal stressed that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who reportedly remitted at least P3 billion last year, will “greatly benefit” from the project because their families will be connected to the OFWs through the internet.
National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba joined Arnal and the foreign delegates in their program in nearby Bacolor town before the launching of the internet center in Planas.
Cordoba said the Aquino government “welcomes groups who want to empower the rural areas with internet technology.”
“It will not be a problem because they are a private firm willing to invest at no cost to the government,” said Cordoba.
He agreed Arnal that the OFWs “are the first to benefit.”
Gov. Lilia Pineda, who was represented by Provincial Information Officer (PIO) Joel Mapiles, said “local and foreign investors are not just welcomed but are assisted to achieve their goals in Pampanga.”
Aranal said the IP Star is offering services to the rural countryside that deploys a business model, such as the basic internet cafe also known as e-kiosk.
It is expandable to propagate Wi-Fi hot spots in various remote municipalities, from 200-meter radius to as much as five-kilometer radius, it was learned.
The project will help the OFWs remit money and provide data, video and voice services for personal and business transactions.
Arnal said most who joined the delegation had invested in the project. The others, he added, are looking at the viability of the project before investing.