Telecommunications firm Eastern Communications projects substantial growth in its information and communications technology (ICT) solutions sector at the launch Wednesday of two new services.

Eastern Communications Coordinator Aileen Reigo forecasts considerable growth in the years ahead as its new public cloud solutions, a tie-up venture with Cloud Sigma and the cyber defense service, a joint project with Canada-based cybersecurity solutions provider DOSarrest, is now in place.

“We may not yet feel the impact of these products now but our business plan for 2020 hinges on these new business products. We are thus targeting around 40 percent of new business to come from all the ICT solutions,” Reigo told reporters.

Currently, 60 percent of its revenue comes from its core solutions while the remaining 40 percent comes from its ICT solutions services.

Reigo revealed that by 2020, the service provider aims to put more focus on expanding its business in new markets in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Ramon Nonato Aesquivel Jr., who is also a coordinator at Eastern Communications, said they want to drastically expand their footprints in areas they call “The Next Wave Cities.” This includes Davao, Cagayan, Iloilo and Dumaguete.

With the expansion targets, Reigo and Aesquivel said the company may breach the P850 million capital expenditure set aside for the year.

“For this year, we will breach our CAPEX a bit. We should be able to reach P1 billion because of the aggressiveness of the expansion program. We will start the expansions later this year so that next year, we will be able to reach other parts of the country. Eastern is now going nationwide,” Reigo said.