The first in Binan, Laguna, NARRA1 will be the biggest carrier-neutral and most energy-efficient facility in the Philippines.
NARRA1 was designed to meet the latest demands from cloud, network, digital media, and enterprise customers regarding power specifications, reliability, security, and sustainability. The facility's environmental impact was a top priority for Digital Edge. They have gone to great lengths to ensure it is as energy-efficient and environmentally friendly as possible.
Arriving earlier benefited us as we got to know more about the place. The design was a well-thought piece by a Filipino interior designer, highlighting a binary code-led masterpiece demonstrating the Philippine's staple characters like an eagle and the Philippine map.
Digital Edge (Singapore) Holdings Pte. Ltd. (“Digital Edge”), one of the fastest growing data center platforms in Asia, has announced the availability of its new 10MW data center in Manila from 1 March 2023. This marks Digital Edge’s debut in the Philippines as the company continues its mission to bridge the digital divide in South East Asia’s high-growth markets.
NARRA1 is a joint project with the Threadborne Group, a local family office focused on technology and real estate. Offering 2,200 cabinets and 10MW of IT power, the new facility becomes the largest carrier-neutral data center in the Philippines. It is intended to plug the huge unmet demand for data center capacity, with the domestic colocation market expected to grow at a CAGR of 25% between 2022 and 2027.
The data center has been designed to meet the latest demands from cloud, network, digital media, and enterprise customers regarding power specifications, reliability, security and sustainability. Digital Edge has confirmed it has already received bookings for the new data center, including from multiple major domestic internet service providers.
In line with the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, the data center will leverage Nortek’s patented StatePoint® technology, along with innovative engineering design, to enable the facility to achieve an expected annualized Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.193 and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) of 1.355 at optimal operating temperature. The facility will also be triple certified with LEED Gold, BERDE, and EDGE certifications.
Jonathan Chou, Chief Product Officer for Digital Edge, said, “We’re pleased to finally open our doors in Manila and further expand our presence across the region. Our management team are deeply committed to bridging the digital divide across Asia. That’s why NARRA1 has been designed and built to the highest specifications using cutting-edge technology, as we seek to provide the Philippines with the state-of-the-art digital infrastructure it deserves.”
Vic Barrios, Country Manager for Digital Edge in the Philippines, commented, ‘We see significant growth potential in the Philippines and are the first regional data center player to open for business in the market. We want to be the shining gold standard for the industry regarding green, sustainable data centers, and we hope NARRA1 will set the example for the Philippines and beyond.”
Raymond Rufino, Principal for Investments and Real Estate of the Threadborne Group*, added,* “Digital transformation is a priority for the Philippines, and we are proud to work with Digital Edge to enhance further the country’s critical digital infrastructure with the availability of NARRA1. Our companies share a common commitment to robust ESG goals, and we are excited by the innovative design of this facility, which will enable us to support the growth of the digital economy without compromising on our environmental responsibilities.”
Digital Edge's new data center, NARRA1, is an impressive feat of engineering and design. It represents a significant step forward for the Philippines' digital infrastructure and a commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this exciting new venture.