PLDT Inc. (PLDT) is placing a strong emphasis on data centers as a core pillar of its growth strategy, responding to the exponential increase in data storage and processing needs. Menardo G. Jimenez, PLDT chief operating officer, said that data center expansion is a major growth driver, with the company already having built 10 data centers and nearing completion of its largest facility to date—its 11th data center.
“We believe data centers are a crucial part of PLDT’s revenue growth,” Jimenez said, noting that the company has experienced “healthy growth rates” in its data center business over the past five years. Through its subsidiary ePLDT, the company has solidified its leadership in the local data center industry, with its VITRO Data Centers offering comprehensive IT outsourcing solutions. The VITRO Sta. Rosa Data Center is the largest and most advanced in the country and is poised to become the Philippines’ AI hub, driving the first AI ecosystem in the nation.
Jimenez also identified data sovereignty laws as the next major inflection point for the data center industry. He explained that once the government enforces localized data storage regulations, it would significantly increase the demand for domestic data centers, providing a major growth opportunity for PLDT.
Looking ahead, PLDT is preparing for the rise of AI by launching GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS), catering to the increasing demand for high-performance computing fueled by AI and machine learning. With strategic investments in data centers, AI infrastructure, and green energy, PLDT is reinforcing its leadership in digital transformation and positioning itself at the forefront of the telecommunications industry’s future.
