Major Milestones in the Philippines' Digital Infrastructure and AI Innovation
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan led the inauguration of VITRO Sta. Rosa (VSR), the country’s first hyperscale data center built specifically for Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads. Located in Laguna’s fast-growing tech corridor, VSR is developed by VITRO Inc., a subsidiary of ePLDT and the data center arm of PLDT. This facility is a milestone in VITRO’s mission to power a more connected, resilient, and AI-enabled future for all, especially as the Philippines is making bold strides in digital infrastructure—right as the world accelerates into the AI era.
VITRO: Pioneering Hyperscale Solutions
VITRO Inc. is the pioneer in hyperscale-grade data centers in the Philippines and provides secure, reliable, and compliant data center solutions to empower the mission-critical operations of its enterprise and hyperscale clients. Established under ePLDT in 2000, VITRO has the largest local data center footprint with 11 state-of-the-art facilities leveraging on the expertise and world-class telecommunication infrastructure of the PLDT Group. Key highlights of their current trajectory include:
- VITRO Inc. and BDO: A Strategic Partnership Powering the Philippines’ Digital Resilience.
- Data Center Operators Unite: Strengthening the Philippines’ Bid as Next Digital Hub of Southeast Asia.
- Sustainability Goals: 40% Reduction on Carbon Emissions by 2030, on the road to Net Zero by 2050.
Global Expansion and Market Entry by Equinix
In a significant expansion for the region, Equinix Inc., a digital infrastructure company headquartered in the United States (US), has completed its acquisition of three data centers in Manila, becoming the newest player in the country’s growing data center industry. Equinix announced that it has acquired the data centers from technology solutions provider Total Information Management (TIM), which are located in Metro Manila and Cavite. With a carrier-neutral scheme, the three high-performance hubs can provide more than 1,000 cabinets of capacity, supporting the critical expansion needs of its clients.
Equinix’s entry into the Philippines comes as the local digital economy remains robust, driven by a wide range of transactions, including e-commerce and digital media. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the country’s digital economy reached ₱2.25 trillion in 2024, accounting for 8.5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Equinix Asia-Pacific President Cyrus Adaggra said the acquisition affirms the company’s commitment to empower the Philippines with “innovative, world-class infrastructure to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.”
Innovation and the Digital Renaissance
Parallel to infrastructure growth, Research Casting International (RCI) has initialized RCI Digital as the fifth branch of the company. RCI Digital is Research Casting International's answer to Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums in the Digital Age. The primary objective of RCI Digital is to provide some of the most significant institutions around the globe with the security and required resources to be able to create a new world of digital services for the public; what some are referring to as The Digital Renaissance.
RCI has been at the forefront of transitioning the industry from molding and casting to scanning and printing, a transition that is accelerating rapidly with each passing year. Additionally, the Design, Research, and Innovation Institute (DRII) provides vital training in research, writing, time management, collaborative and independent thinking, and design thinking skills. DRII provides an affordable, customized program that gives students the opportunity to work with world class mentors to bring their vision to life and show colleges and universities that they are the kind of student they need.
Global and Local Infrastructure Statistics
- Equinix Global Reach: Equinix operates a total of 270 data centers globally, 63 of which are located in the Asia-Pacific region.
- VITRO Footprint: 11 state-of-the-art facilities leveraging world-class telecommunication infrastructure.
- Connectivity Ecosystem: Equinix newly acquired data centers will host the country’s leading network service providers, offering its clients greater access to more than 10,000 companies within its global ecosystem.
