India-based iSON Group is committing up to USD375 million to expand its Philippine operations, led by a USD300-million telecommunications infrastructure program that will bring its tower network to 3,000 sites over the next decade.
The investment package also includes USD75 million for projects in agriculture, healthcare and business process outsourcing, giving the technology group a broader foothold in the Philippine digital and services economy.
iSON Tower Ltd. Inc., the group’s telecommunications infrastructure arm, has already invested USD65 million in 450 towers across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It plans to deploy 300 to 400 towers annually, creating more than 100 direct jobs and expanding its contractor workforce to about 1,000.
The company is backed by TPG Peppertree Capital, the Asian Development Bank and Security Bank.
The group presented its expansion plans during a Sept. 12 meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and economic officials, as the government seeks to attract investments in infrastructure, technology and other higher-value sectors.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the planned expansion reflected investor confidence in the Philippines and would bring additional capital and technology into the economy.
“iSON Group’s expansion shows that our investment reforms are working and that global companies trust the Philippines,” Roque said.
Beyond telecommunications, iSON plans to invest USD50 million in an agro-solar project in New Clark City, combining 50 hectares of protected agriculture with a 40-megawatt-peak solar facility.
It will also allocate USD15 million to expand digital healthcare and teleconsultation services and USD10 million for BPO operations. The BPO unit will initially serve Philippine telecommunications companies before taking on offshore workloads from South Africa, Egypt and India.
Qualifying projects may access incentives under CREATE MORE and expedited processing through the Green Lane system.
The investment package would expand iSON’s Philippine footprint from telecom infrastructure into renewable energy, agriculture, healthcare and business services, while creating jobs and widening its local supplier network.
