The Philippines' largest telecommunications provider PLDT will spend 10 billion pesos ($212.2 million) over the next two years to expand its data center footprint in in support of large enterprises, government and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
By 2017, the operator aims to have a total of 10 data centers with a total capacity of over 10,000 racks, up from seven today with 7,000 racks.
“Data centers will serve as a critical foundation of the emerging data-driven enterprise of the future,” said Eric Alberto, PLDT EVP & ePLDT President, and CEO, said at the recent launch of the Vitro Data Center in Makati, its seventh in the country.
“We are absolutely determined to enable this country to become more globally competitive through technology.”
The operator will soon open its eighth data center at the Clark Special Economic Zone while its first data center in Mindanao island will be set up in Davao City. The Vitro Data Center in Cebu will also be expanded next year.
With business models are increasingly now being governed by social, mobility, cloud and security (SMACS), Alberto said partnering with third-party data centers has even become more compelling as it also addresses enterprises’ growing concerns and need to be insulated from evolving threats, whether man-made or natural.
“Business continuity equal social continuity,” he said. ”Security issues and calamities like earthquakes and super typhoons can stunt business growth and continuity. Effective data management addresses the real risks and dangers confronting business and its consequential impact on society.”
With the Philippines very prone to natural disasters and even man-made catastrophes, PLDT’s Vitro Data Center in Makati has been fully equipped to protect clients’ data assets.
Nerisse S. Ramos, chief operating officer, ePLDT, disclosed that the facility’s concrete and glass structure can stand wind velocity of about 300 kph, an intensity 8-9 earthquake, and was elevated 1.4 meters higher than street level though the area is not historically flood-prone historically.
“Local enterprises have actually become more proactive in protecting data and critical assets,” she said.
As data centers are critical facilities that house digital information of enterprises and government agencies, these facilities are designed to meet international standards to safeguard crucial information from cyber security threats and ensure continuous operations.
The first PLDT VITRO Data Center opened in Pasig City in 2000 with a rack capacity of only 1,800. Two more subsequently opened in Subic and Cebu which serve large enterprises, particularly banking and financial services, business process outsourcing, and online gaming firms. Meanwhile, ePLDT unit IP Converge (IPC) operates three more data center facilities that primarily serve small and medium enterprises (SMEs).