Eastern Communications recognised for ESG and brand leadership at Asian Telecom Awards 2026
The company secured two honours for initiatives that advanced digital inclusion and strengthened business engagement.
Eastern Communications received accolades in the ESG Initiative of the Year - Philippines and Marketing & Brand Initiative of the Year - Philippines categories at the Asian Telecom Awards 2026. The recognition covered two separate initiatives that addressed gaps in digital access for underserved communities and strengthened engagement with enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses across the Philippines.
Extending digital access to far-flung schools
Project Maaasahan was developed by Eastern Communications to support public schools located far from urban centres, where terrain and limited infrastructure restricted digital access. Implementation took place in partnership with United Kingdom-based non-profit organisation Unconnected.org and in coordination with local government units and education stakeholders. School selection criteria included geographic isolation, existing connectivity gaps, student population size, and operational readiness.
During the first phase, the programme connected 10 public schools across 10 provinces using satellite-powered internet services. Connectivity access reached 2,785 students and 155 teachers, alongside a total barangay population of 29,517 residents. Each participating school also functioned as a free community Wi-Fi hub after class hours, extending access to households and community members.
Deployment included 10 Maaasahan kits, supported by training sessions conducted with school administrators and teachers. These sessions focused on responsible internet use and basic connectivity management. Schools introduced online-supported classroom instruction and digital literacy activities, whilst parents accessed livelihood-related resources through the same infrastructure. Programme reach extended beyond formal education settings into broader community use.
Building business relevance
From Boardroom to Business, a video-led marketing strategy developed by Eastern Communications, was also recognised. Network expansion across regional markets highlighted the need for content that reflected the operational realities of enterprises and entrepreneurs.
The initiative consisted of two original video series designed for different audience segments. Notes from the Boardroom featured structured conversations with senior executives from banking, hospitality, outsourcing, and energy sectors. Filmed in office environments, each episode focused on leadership decision-making, organisational management, and long-term planning. Distribution took place through Facebook and LinkedIn channels.
Business & Tsismis targeted entrepreneurs and regional business owners through a conversational video podcast format. The series featured founders and executives discussing operational challenges, growth decisions, and market experience based on direct participation in the Philippine business environment. Content development aligned with audience consumption patterns, favouring on-demand video.
Across both series, performance metrics recorded 3,153,916 video views, 1.3m unique users reached, and 1.5m engagements. Eastern Communications reported contributions of PHP82m in monthly service fees, equivalent to US$1.38m, alongside a customer satisfaction rate of 97.55%. Total content investment amounted to PHP800,000, equivalent to US$13,497.
The Asian Telecom Awards is a premier awards programme that recognises telecom companies across the Asia Pacific for their contributions to industry advancement, technological innovation, and digital infrastructure development.
The Asian Telecom Awards is presented by Asian Telecom Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2027 awards programme and be acclaimed for delivering cutting-edge, award-winning telco products and services to customers, please contact Julie Anne Nunez - Difuntorum at +(65) 3158 1386 ext. 242. You may also reach out via [email protected].
