VITRO Inc. is the Philippines’ leading data centre service provider, boasting the most expansive data footprint in the country. President and CEO, Victor S. Genuino, tells us how the company serves as the most trusted digital partner for countless enterprises across the nation.
FUTUREPROOFING THE PHILIPPINES
The global data centre market has evolved rapidly in the last decade, primarily driven by accelerated cloud adoption as well as the key emergence of artificial intelligence (AI).
Amid this global, sector-defining evolution, the ePLDT Group (ePLDT) stands as the industry-leading digital transformation partner for enterprises in the Philippines, with its subsidiary, VITRO Inc. (VITRO), pioneering as the country’s leading data centre operator, managing the largest network of data centres in the nation.
The Philippines is not only rich in natural resources, culture, and talent, but also holds a unique strategic geographic position to be the next gateway to Asia from a digital infrastructure standpoint.
As the race for data dominance intensifies in the Asia Pacific region, the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) projects a remarkable fivefold increase in data centre capacity within the Philippines over the next five years.
Leveraging the comprehensive expertise and world-class telecommunications infrastructure of the broader PLDT Group, ePLDT aims to deliver customised ICT services through its vast suite of multi-cloud offerings and data centres, which now enable enterprises across the nation to achieve their digital transformation vision.
In 2000, ePLDT inaugurated its signature VITRO data centre facility in Pasig City, the first site of its kind in the Philippines, marking a landmark achievement and setting the stage for its leading position in the race to build data centre capacity in the country.
With more than 20 years of industry experience and expertise under its belt, VITRO has set the standards in providing world-class data centre facilities, catering to real business needs in the digital age.
“VITRO data centres are interconnected by DCI, a vital technology that connects data centres spread across different geographical locations, and it can securely and seamlessly transfer critical data from one site to another”
Victor S. Genuino, President and CEO, EPLDT and VITRO Inc.
PIONEERS FOR THE PHILIPPINES
VITRO data centres are strategically located in major cities in the Philippines, securing critical enterprise data that serves as the lifeblood of the country’s journey to digitalisation.
“Our company is the pioneer in hyperscale-grade data centres in the Philippines and has delivered secure, reliable, and fully compliant data centre solutions for more than two decades to empower mission-critical operations for enterprises, telcos, carriers, hyperscalers, and even the public sector,” introduces Victor S. Genuino, President and CEO.
“With robust and hyperconnected data centres, VITRO provides the foundation for businesses’ success in the digital age and is home to a rich and diverse digital ecosystem in which technologically-driven companies synergise and connect to collectively thrive in the digital landscape,” he prides.
As President and CEO, Genuino is responsible for defining VITRO’s growth strategy and strengthening its industry-leading position as the digital transformation partner of choice for enterprises with its suite of data centre, multi-cloud, and AI solutions.
“Power is the lifeblood of any data centre, and a comprehensive understanding of the energy sector – from generation to distribution – is crucial for any data centre operator.
“Spending 10 years in the power sector equipped me with this knowledge. Consequently, I can now leverage this learning to enhance our strategies as we continue to expand our footprint in the country,” he explains.
NETWORK ACROSS THE NATION
Today, VITRO boasts the largest data centre footprint across the Philippines with 11 state-of-the-art facilities located in key locations nationwide, including another one soon to rise in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
As such, the current VITRO network of data centres offers nearly 9,000 racks across the Philippines, which has been strategically advantageous for the company in serving mission-critical, industry-leading operations.
Once complete, VITRO Sta. Rosa will be the largest facility in its portfolio, with 4,500 racks and a total load of 50 megawatts (MW). Combined with the rest of VITRO’s data centre, the full activation of VITRO Sta.Rosa will increase the total power capacity of VITRO to 100MW.
This state-of-the-art facility will be Rated-3 certified and Rated-4 ready, providing clients with unparalleled reliability and uptime assurance.
Furthermore, the site is connected to major cable landing stations that have direct access to international subsea cable systems like Jupiter and the upcoming Asia Direct Cable, amongst others. Thus, it will be the most modern and sustainable VITRO data centre to date as it incorporates technology, renewable energy, and design elements that ensure the efficient utilisation of power and water whilst also reducing carbon emissions.
“VITRO data centres are interconnected by data centre interconnect (DCI), a vital technology that connects data centres spread across different geographical locations, and it can securely and seamlessly transfer critical data from one site to another,” he adds.
As such, VITRO data centres are strategically linked together to allow seamless integration and agile response to market demands.
EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
Crucial to maintaining the company’s success and formidable reputation within the data industry in the Philippines, is the ongoing cultivation of VITRO’s core relationships with both its dedicated staff and business partners.
“Our technology partners are absolutely integral to the success of VITRO. The scale and complexity of our operations rely on strong relationships with our partners as they share the expertise and innovative solutions that allow us to continually push the boundaries of what we can offer, especially in areas like power management, cooling, and network infrastructure,” states Genuino.
In addition to its partners, employees remain at the beating heart of VITRO, as their dedication and expertise ensure day-to-day operations run seamlessly and clients receive exceptional service.
From engineers to support teams, every individual’s contribution is essential to achieving VITRO’s goal of being the most trusted digital infrastructure provider in the Philippines.
Together, this ecosystem of partners, suppliers, and hard-working employees allows it to continue setting new standards in the data centre industry.
Getting everyone to take part in this undertaking requires leadership and work environments that lift people up.
“We espouse a culture of transparency and open communication. As managers, our role is to bring out the best in our people,” says Genuino.
“I believe in accountability, appreciating contributions, rewarding performance, and providing employees with challenges and opportunities for learning and growth.”
“The surge of AI necessitates a rethink in the way we design and build our facilities and an even deeper focus on how we innovate”
Victor S. Genuino, President and CEO, EPLDT and VITRO Inc.
SURGING INTO THE FUTURE
The future is full of exciting scheduled developments for VITRO.
Looking to establish itself as an entirely separate entity, VITRO will continue to serve as the PLDT Group’s dedicated data centre operations company alongside spearheading advancements in its data centre builds, innovations, and services as well as optimising operations.
This move is also part of VITRO’s strong commitment to further elevate the customer experience and cater to the demands of hyperscalers, AI, and enterprises.
“The surge of AI necessitates a rethink in the way we design and build our facilities and an even deeper focus on how we innovate. The creation of VITRO allows us to be more agile as we adapt to the evolving needs of the digital market and build more world-class facilities that will advance the Philippines’ digitalisation,” Genuino elaborates.
Elsewhere, hyperscalers will continue to propel the growth of VITRO in the coming years, however the company expects AI to further accelerate this once adoption peaks in the Philippines.
“Our aspiration remains the same – we want the Philippines to be a digital destination for hyperscalers and all emerging technologies. It’s not a question of if, but when,” he concludes proudly.
With a strong collaboration between the entire data centre sector and the national government, VITRO can rest assured that this vision will come to fruition in no time.
VITRO PARTNER
