As the race for data dominance intensifies in the Asia Pacific Region, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) projects a remarkable five-fold increase in data center capacity within the Philippines for the next five years. PLDT and ePLDT, with 65% market share, support local data center competition, effectively positioning the Philippines as a regional hyperscaler hub in the Asia Pacific Region.
The 2023 Q1 market report by S&P Global Market Intelligence indicates a 13% CAGR in the Philippines’ data center operational space between 2020-2025. This growth is driven by hyperscaler expansion and global enterprise interests. S&P Global’s webinar on June 15 and 29 discussed developments in the Philippines’ digital landscape, with Dan Thompson, Principal Research Analyst for Datacenter Services and Infrastructure, and Gary Ignacio, Chief Data Center Officer at ePLDT, and Roselle dela Cruz, Vice President for US & Europe, Middle East and Africa Market at PLDT Global Corporation, discussing the country’s digital shifts and PLDT’s efforts to establish it as a digital market destination in Southeast Asia.
Building the PH Digital Infrastructure
PLDT has made significant investments in international and domestic infrastructure to meet the growing demand for digital transformation. The Group’s initiatives include the completion of the Jupiter Cable System, Asia Direct Cable System, and Apricot Cable System. With extensive fiber rollout and 5G network expansion, PLDT aims to connect the digital ecosystem within the Philippines and across the region, promoting faster data transmission and supporting the growth of digital economies.
For its part, ePLDT has invested heavily in its data center and cloud, as they are crucial for enterprise growth and national digitalization. Ignacio envisions the Philippines replicating its success as an outsourcing hub in cloud and hyperscale domains. To be more specific, ePLDT’s services are being adopted by sectors like banking, finance, business process outsourcing, and the national government, driven by digital transformation initiatives.
VITRO Sta. Rosa: The First Hyperscale Data Center in the Philippines
The largest data center network provider in the Philippines, ePLDT is also constructing its 11th VITRO Data Center in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. This hyperscale facility, with a 50MW capacity, meets Rated-3 certification and Ready-to-Go standards, offering unparalleled reliability and uptime assurance. The facility is designed to adhere to sustainability and LEED standards, with a 1.4 Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) energy efficiency, the lowest realistic PUE for data centers in the Philippines.
The Future for ePLDT
Looking ahead ePLDT is expanding its data center infrastructure, including construction in VITRO Sta. Rosa and Data Center 12. Overall ePLDT is ready to meet hyperscaler demands and fuel the country’s digital economy.
Dela Cruz expresses the country’s potential: “The Philippines is a rich country, not just in natural resources, culture, talent, but it is also in a unique strategic geographic position to be the next gateway to Asia from a digital infrastructure standpoint. With further collaboration with private and strong support from the government, we will definitely be the next digital hub in Asia.”
As the digital revolution gains momentum, the rise of the Philippines as a digital powerhouse is set to reshape the region’s digital landscape.
For more on ePLDT’s VITRO Data Centers, contact your Relationship Manager or visit www.ePLDT.com.
Feature Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik
