Company: Converge ICT Solutions Inc.
Company Description: Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is the leading fiber broadband provider in the Philippines. Our commitment is to provide pure end-to-end fiber internet connection – from our network facilities to the homes of our customers. Ensuring no loss in data transmission or slowdown in internet connectivity. This means greater speed and bandwidth only capable with Optical Fiber wires, all the way.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Woman of the Year - Technology
 Nomination Title: Maria Grace Y. Uy, President, Co- Founder, Chief Resources Officer and Chief Risk Officer
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the achievements since July 1, 2021 of the nominated woman, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions for this category, provide them in the spaces below:
- Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 200 words used.
Maria Grace Uy has always been curious about the frontier of possibilities that a connected Philippines might bring, but for years, Filipinos have been settling for poor internet services, depriving them of the chance to explore the opportunities in a thriving digital economy.
Grace is the President and co-founder of Converge ICT Solutions Inc., a technology solutions firm currently the leading fiber broadband provider in the Philippines.
She was among the influential figures behind the business that dismantled the telecom duopoly in the country to give way for the delivery of the much-needed connectivity that Filipinos deserve.
Also taking charge as chief risk officer and chief resources officer, Grace oversees the financial landscape of Converge to ensure that adequate strategic planning, meticulous budgeting, and effective risk management are implemented.
Her analytical prowess helped attract a $250 million investment from New York-based equity firm Warburg Pincus in 2019 and facilitated the successful listing of Converge in the Philippine Stock Exchange, which raised $523 million in one of the bourse's recent largest IPOs.
Since then, Grace has committed herself to uplifting the unserved and underserved, pledging to leave no one behind as she works to discover what a digitally-connected nation can do.
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 238 words used.
The achievements and milestones of Converge speak volumes about how Grace swiftly established herself and her company at the forefront of the local and international telecommunications space.
Converge has been consistently awarded for its fast and reliable internet services, including the Top-Rated Fixed Network for Q1-Q2 2022, and the Best ISP Video Experience award for Q3-Q4 2022 from Ookla Speedtest Awards last year.
The Top-Rated Fixed Network Award was based on user ratings, thereby reflecting the majority of preference and sentiment from Filipino customers. Ookla is the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence, testing applications and related technologies.
Aside from that, Converge was also awarded the Best Operator in an Emerging Market last year in the 2022 World Communication Awards (WCA).
Grace was also given the Woman in Telecoms Award, the first-ever Filipina to bring the said distinction to the country as she bested four other women leaders from global companies.
This was not the first time Grace made a mark, not only for Converge but also for the Philippines. In 2021, she also landed the Forbes Magazine’s Asia’s Power Businesswomen list, the lone Filipina in the roster, for her strategic leadership which resulted in partnerships that secured the burgeoning success of Converge.
The year after, Grace also stood out as one of the only two Filipinas selected for Forbes' "50 over 50" list, which celebrated women shattering age and gender stereotypes all over the globe.
- Outline the nominee's achievements since July 1 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
Embodying her unique traits as a woman in business, Grace ushered a series of triumphs in her pursuit to power a digitally-connected Philippines.
Co-piloting the business with her husband Converge CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy, Converge is now the Philippines' fastest-growing fixed broadband provider with a subscriber base of nearly two million as of Q12023 from approximately 530,000 in 2019.
Grace spearheaded the company's nationwide expansion through significant inter-island connections in Visayas and Mindanao, from major cities to the most remote communities.
Currently, Converge boasts the most extensive fiber-to-the-home network in the Philippines and one of the country's most advanced and extensive cable systems, having 7.9 million ports nationwide and a remarkable 618,000 km fiber backbone.
As Converge went full throttle in reaching the unserved and underserved, it introduced this year its pioneering prepaid fiber solution called Surf2Sawa which caters to demand from the lower-income markets. This solution enabled Converge to record industry-leading subscriber acquisition among fixed broadband providers in the first quarter of the year, with 56.2 percent household coverage nationwide, surpassing 14.9 million homes.
Converge, however, does not stop there as it has broken ground this year on the site for its next cable landing station (CLS) in Davao, the Philippine branch of the Bifrost Cable System, which will support the booming digital connectivity needs of the Asia-Pacific region.
These feats prove how Grace's visionary leadership has propelled Converge to unprecedented heights, bridging the digital divide and revolutionizing connectivity across the Philippines.
- Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 249 words used.
As a woman in the technology industry, Grace’s achievements are proof of how she has been making strides in achieving what many people regard as impossible.
Despite being a relatively new player in an industry dominated by two telco giants, Grace’s co-leadership at Converge helped transform the digital experience of Filipinos through world-class connectivity services.
The rapid expansion and substantial increase in subscriber base of Converge demonstrated its capability to meet the country’s demand for digital access and its deliberate efforts in providing the much-needed solution to the country’s various connectivity challenges.
Evident with its vast fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network and expansive fiber backbone, Grace has been making significant progress in bringing their services closer to remote areas while building redundancy and resiliency, which are instrumental to secure improved experiences from customers.
Furthermore, the launch of Surf2Sawa underscores the company’s determination to empower communities and households in the periphery to also afford quality connectivity solutions. More than just a fiber product, this low-cost offering of Converge gives the marginalized a chance to fully participate in our society, democracy, and economy, which according to the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, is the true meaning of digital equity.
Overall, these achievements emphasize Grace’s transformative impact into shaping the Philippine telecommunications landscape into what it is today. With much more affordable and better connectivity services, Grace has advanced in powering the country with access to essential digital resources, equipping Filipinos with a solid foundation to freely navigate the endless possibilities in this digital age.
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