The PLDT and Meralco Group are strengthening its collaboration to further uplift the country’s digital and power infrastructure, as the Philippines gets into the radar of global hyperscalers as the next prospective destination in Southeast Asia and the Asia Pacific region.
Jovy I. Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise and International Business Groups, said that hyper-collaboration among industry enablers such as PLDT and Meralco is vital, to ensure that the elevated standards sought by these hyperscalers are met and complied with, and this has been evident between the PLDT and Meralco Group in the past years.
“PLDT continues to work with Meralco for the power grid design and renewable energy requirements of our data centers. These enhancements allow us to anticipate the specifications fit for hyperscaler, such as multiple grid terminations for redundancy and sustainable design,” Hernandez said.
Taking into consideration the hypergrowth that comes with the influx of these global cloud and content players, ePLDT has set out a clear roadmap for its VITRO data centers that includes fortifying its data center design and facilities, diversifying its network infrastructure, and bringing sustainability at the core of its operations.
Likewise, the company is currently teaming up with the energy sector to help drive the renewable energy thrust of hyperscalers.
“We continue to incorporate green innovations and practices into our ways of doing and partner with relevant organizations to harness renewable energy that will soon power our data center facilities and ultimately, the hyperscaler market,” Hernandez added.
As a technology enabler, the group also recognizes its obligation to ensure the Philippines’ competitiveness to help attract the right investments to the country, said the PLDT executive.
“As the country’s only fully integrated telco, the PLDT group is making an unbreakable commitment to continue investing in the most advanced technologies to enhance our digital infrastructure and comply with the evolving demands of the market,” Hernandez highlighted.
Meanwhile, Meralco Group Chief Sustainability Officer and Chief Executive Officer of eSakay Raymond B. Ravelo said Meralco recognizes its role to spur and support the growth of hyperscalers by delivering not only reliable and high-quality energy but also “earth-friendly” power.
“We in Meralco are committed to working shoulder-to-shoulder with our government, our colleagues in the MVP group of companies, and fellow stakeholders in the Philippine energy sector and business community, as we all do our part in transforming our country into a regional hyperscaler powerhouse,” Ravelo said.
He also outlined Meralco’s comprehensive sustainability agenda supporting the government’s thrust for economic growth and sustainable prosperity. This encompasses the company’s four sustainability pillars ̶ Planet, People, Power, and Prosperity.
“As we embark on a just, orderly, and affordable transition to clean energy, we aim to secure 1,500MW of our power requirements in the next five years from renewable energy sources. Furthermore, through Meralco PowerGen Corporation, and its renewable energy arm, MGreen, we will build up to 1,500MW of clean energy capacity through 2027,” the Meralco executive said.
The PLDT and Meralco Group recently joined the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Board of Investments (BOI) for the government’s push to invite leading technology service providers to expand their operations in the Philippines.
The hyper collaboration between key private and public entities is seen to bolster further and drive the country’s digital agenda. In particular, PLDT and Meralco’s partnership is aimed towards achieving a common goal which is delivering world-class and sustainable data center services to global hyperscalers through the use of renewable energy.