PLDT’s VITRO is currently the most prominent company in the Philippines actively upgrading its infrastructure to handle AI workloads. They have already launched their first AI-ready hyperscale data center, VITRO Sta. Rosa, and are planning to build another 100MW data center in South Luzon.
ePLDT and VITRO President and CEO Victor Genuino expressed confidence in the future of the data center industry, indicating that their next data center project could potentially exceed 100 megawatts in capacity and they also want it to be built around VSR.
VITRO Sta. Rosa has upgraded its data cabinets to handle up to 17 kW, sufficient for AI workloads. This exceeds the typical 3-5 kW per cabinet requirement. To accommodate increasing digitalization, VITRO plans to further boost capacity to 50 kW per cabinet.
“As we continue to innovate at VSR to accommodate the growth of AI, we have outlined a roadmap for GPU stacks capable of supporting up to 50 kW now and 100 KW in the future, ensuring we meet the demands of high-density AI workloads,” Genuino said.
Just like any other data center operators, AI-readiness is their key priority in 2025 as they provide both their public and private sector customers access to HPC using their AI-ready data center infrastructure.
Other companies in the Philippines are likely to follow suit and upgrade their data centers to support AI workloads. In July 2024, Converge ICT Solutions also announced plans on building AI-powered data centers, prioritizing both cutting-edge technology and environmental sustainability.
The AI landscape in the Philippines is still developing. There may be a need for more specialized data centers dedicated to AI workloads as AI adoption grows. However, for now, existing data centers are being adapted to meet the evolving needs of AI applications.
The distinction between a regular data center and an AI-ready data center may become less relevant over time as more data centers are equipped to handle AI workloads. The focus is shifting towards building flexible and scalable infrastructure that can adapt to the changing needs of AI and other emerging technologies.