PLDT Inc. said it is now seriously considering selling its stake in its data center business, citing recent interest from big multinational companies.
“We’ve been approached lately … They’re big multinational [companies]. I think this time, we’re serious about selling our stake in data center,” Manuel Pangilinan, PLDT chairman and chief executive said.
Pangilinan said in May PLDT was no longer planning to sell a portion of its stake in Vitro Inc., which operates 11 data centers in the country.
PLDT earlier confirmed that it was in talks with CVC Capital Partners and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. for the sale of its data center.
Pangilinan had said the company planned to sell its 49-percent stake in ePLDT for about $1 billion.
Panglinan said the company would retain a controlling 51-percent ownership of Vitro Inc., a fully-owned subsidiary of ePLDT, the ICT holding company of the PLDT Group.
Last April, PLDT Group inaugurated the country’s first hyperscale data center in Sta. Rosa, Laguna built specifically for Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads.
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.
