The P13-billion VITRO Sta. Rosa, PLDT Inc.'s largest hyperscale data center, is on schedule to go live by early 2024,

ePLDT Chief Data Center Officer Gary Ignacio made the announcement during the recent Powertrends International Business Forum.

The facility has an initial power capacity of 14 megawatts (MW) and will further increase to 50MW once fully operational.

"We look forward to continue working with our government and multi-sectoral partners to ensure sufficient energy supply to power the digital future of all Filipinos,” he stated.

Already, the Philippines' data center energy requirements are expected to exceed those of other sectors due to the rapid growth of digitalization and digital transformation.

By 2027, the critical power capacity needed for data center infrastructure in the Philippines will reach approximately 182 MW.

To cater to the strong demand of hyperscalers expanding in the region, PLDT, through its ICT arm ePLDT, is building VITRO’s 11th data center (DC) in its five-hectare property in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

"The demand for digital services just keeps on growing," PLDT and Smart Communications Inc. President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio acknowledged earlier.

Sta. Rosa is geographically ideal for the new data center, being 100 meters above sea level and far from liquefaction, earthquake, and other natural disaster risks.

Sta. Rosa is also a highly developed industrial area accessible through three major highways.

VITRO Sta. Rosa will be equipped with triple-route PLDT domestic fiber as well as telco fiber connectivity from other providers.

It will have the densest interconnectivity to PLDT Group’s own internet exchanges as well as other internet ecosystems in the country.

Overall, VITRO Sta. Rosa will also have the most ideal location for Availability Zones and Points-of-Presence of Hyperscalers, as well as for critical systems of Enterprises.

The hyperscaler facility is designed to be Tier-3 Certified and Tier-4 Ready, complete with an on-site Meralco power substation interconnected to several other substations to minimize the risk of power failure.

Designed based on LEED standards, VITRO Sta. Rosa will implement the global-class sustainability practices in design, supply, and building operations including rainwater collection, wastewater reuse, renewable energy use, and lowest realistic power usage effectiveness (PUE) for the Philippines.

Prior to VITRO Sta. Rosa, the PLDT Group has been serving the requirements of hyperscalers through existing VITRO facilities.

ePLDT, through its VITRO Data Centers, is a pioneer DC operator in the country, with over 20 years of experience in the field.