PLDT’s data center subsidiary Vitro Inc. opened the Philippines’ first hyperscale facility purpose-built for artificial intelligence (AI) workloads on Wednesday, a move the company says signals the country’s ambition to become a digital hub in Southeast Asia.

Vitro Sta. Rosa (VSR), a 50-megawatt facility located in Laguna province’s growing tech corridor, aims to attract global cloud providers and AI-driven enterprises with its high-performance infrastructure and carrier-neutral connectivity. The site, operational since July 2024, houses NVIDIA-powered GPU servers that support ePLDT’s GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS)—a first in the country.

“This technological development is an investment in the future of every Filipino,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said at the launch. “The inauguration of VSR signals the country’s readiness to attract the world’s largest technology companies and showcase our regional competitiveness in the digital space.”

PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said the group plans to scale its data center capacity up to 500 megawatts. “We have to be at least equal to the capacity of Malaysia. . . You have our pledge, Mr. President, to make the Philippines a data center hub,” he said.

VSR is developed by Vitro Inc., a subsidiary of ePLDT and part of PLDT Group’s broader push to expand digital infrastructure. The facility is directly connected to PLDT’s domestic fiber network and linked to international subsea cables such as Jupiter, Asia Direct Cable, and the soon-to-launch Apricot system. It also supports connections to multiple carriers, ensuring network diversity and resilience.

Through GPUaaS, enterprises across industries—from fintech and healthcare to logistics and government—can deploy and scale AI applications on demand, lowering upfront investment and accelerating development timelines.

As global AI adoption intensifies, Vitro’s investment boosts the Philippines’ competitiveness in the regional data economy.

The project aligns with PLDT’s broader digital inclusion agenda and supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 9, which promotes innovation and infrastructure.

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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan today led the inauguration of VITRO Sta. Rosa (VSR), the country’s first hyperscale data center built specifically for Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads.

Located in Laguna’s fast-growing tech corridor, VSR is developed by VITRO Inc., a subsidiary of ePLDT and the data center arm of PLDT.

“The inauguration of VSR signals the country’s readiness to attract the world’s largest technology companies and showcase our regional competitiveness in the digital space. More than that, this technological development is an investment in the future of every Filipino,” President Marcos said.

“We do intend to expand our data center capability for up to 500 MW. We have to be at least equal to the capacity of Malaysia…You have our pledge, Mr. President, to make the Philippines a data center hub,” Pangilinan said.

Operational since July 2024, the 50-megawatt facility is now home to telecom providers, enterprises, and global cloud technology companies. It sets a new standard for secure, high-performance, AI-ready infrastructure in the Philippines.

At the heart of its AI capabilities are NVIDIA-powered GPU servers hosted within VSR. Through these, ePLDT offers GPU as a Service (GPUaaS)—a first in the country. This on-demand computing model enables businesses to access powerful AI tools without heavy upfront investment. Through this service, those in banking, fintech, healthcare, logistics, and government can build and scale AI applications faster, more securely, and at lower cost.

VSR is fully integrated into PLDT’s domestic fiber footprint and linked globally via international cable systems including Jupiter, Asia Direct Cable, and the upcoming Apricot. Its carrier-neutral design also allows connections to multiple telcos, ensuring robust network diversity and resilience.

As AI adoption accelerates globally, VSR strengthens the Philippines’ bid to become a regional hub for digital innovation. It supports the country’s ambitions to attract global investment, foster local tech development, and drive economic growth.

PLDT Group’s investment in data centers and connectivity aligns with its mission to bridge the digital divide, expand access to technology, and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure.