With its RED Fiber broadband service powered by a 100% pure end-to-end fiber optic network, Meralco subsidiary Radius Telecoms, Inc. claims to offer a reliable internet service that no other company can match.
“At the end of the day, it’s really a customer choice. And we know for a fact that not everybody is satisfied with PLDT, with Converge, with Globe, with Sky Cable. What we’re presenting here is an option… We’re presenting an option to the Filipino people because we also understand that PLDT’s network is not in all places. They’re not everywhere. In the same way that we’re also not everywhere as far as our coverage area is concerned. So I see this more as complementing each other, making sure that both companies are stepping up to the plate, so to speak, and delivering the kind of service that the consumers deserve,” said Radius President and CEO Quiel C. Delgado in response to a question from Digital Life Asia on what differentiates RED Fiber from their sister company PLDT.
The RED Life
A 100-percent Meralco company, Radius has actually been around for 20 years, though catering to enterprises, including other telcos, which is why it has been called a “carrier’s carrier”. With RED Fiber, the company now aims to let Filipino consumers experience this same kind of high-speed, stable, and reliable internet connection at home.
“The way we view the market for broadband is that there’s still a good percentage of the population that’s unserved. We’re not necessarily competing with our sister company. We are trying to service areas that really are underserved. We view ourselves as something that can complement the services of the group. The market is big enough for broadband,” said Radius VP and COO Jen Dela Paz in response to the same question.
By “group”, Dela Paz was referring to the MVP Group of Companies, which includes PLDT and Meralco, as well as Cignal TV, which is Radius’ partner for RED Fiber in providing the IPTV channels bundled with the internet service.
Redefining reliability
As this Vice News video report shows, many consumers are unhappy with the slow and unreliable internet connections in the Philippines. This has become an even bigger concern due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where the new normal includes working from home and attending virtual classes.
Delgado emphasized that the reliability of RED Fiber is not just a matter of technology because of its pure fiber network, but also its commitment to customer service, including 24/7 customer support. He said they believe in providing round-the-clock support from service specialists, because nothing is more frustrating for unhappy customers than taking forever to reach a real person who can address their concerns.
Delgado added they are so confident of the reliability of RED Fiber that they are offering a 90-Day Internet Guarantee program, allowing subscribers to opt to discontinue the service within 90 days without pre-termination fees.
RED Fiber offers service packages that suit different household needs, including Internet Only Plans and Dual Play Plans with added IPTV content provided by Cignal TV.
Cignal TV and TV5 President and CEO Robert P. Galang noted the importance of bringing this IPTV content to more homes, particularly in the face of this pandemic, as these channels provide Filipinos with information, education, and entertainment.
“So it’s not just pesos and centavos. It’s really a whole experience that we’re able to provide to our subscribers, both RED and Cignal, that would enrich their lives and have them go though this pandemic a lot more entertained, a lot more educated, a lot more informed,” Galang said.
RED Fiber is currently available in select areas in Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Tagaytay, Rizal, and Bulacan.
