Recently, PLDT Group, a telecommunications giant in the Philippines, has made significant moves in the data center sector.
The group is planning its 12th data center. According to a filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange last Thursday, the new data center is set to be located in General Trias, Cavite province. Currently in the assessment stage, details such as project scale, timeline, and investment figures are still being finalized. Subject to internal approval and market conditions, the data center is estimated to cost $1 billion, with an IT load capacity of 100 megawatts, twice the capacity of the newly launched Vitro Sta. Rosa data center in Laguna. Victor Hernandez, President and CEO of ePLDT, revealed that the detailed plan will be finalized this year, construction will start in 2026, and it is expected to be completed in 2028, with construction carried out in five phases, adding 20 megawatts of capacity in each phase.
Simultaneously, PLDT Group has officially launched the Vitro Sta. Rosa data center in Laguna. Costing at least $350 million, it has been in operation since July 2024. With a designed capacity of 50 megawatts, it has increased Vitro's total data center capacity by 50%. Equipped with NVIDIA - based GPU servers and powered by a 115 - kilovolt substation built by meralco, this facility is fully integrated into PLDT's domestic fiber - optic network and is globally connected via international submarine cable systems like Jupiter and Asia Direct Cable.
Manuel Pangilinan, Chairman of PLDT Group, said the group aims to expand its total data center capacity to 500 megawatts, striving to make the Philippines a data center hub. ePLDT has launched GPU - as - a - service at the Vitro Sta. Rosa facility, a first in the Philippines. Through this on - demand computing model, enterprises can access powerful AI tools without large upfront investments, enabling industries such as banking, fintech, healthcare, logistics, and government agencies to build and expand AI applications more quickly, securely, and at a lower cost.