Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) said it is venturing into the data center business with unit Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC) partnering with US-based EdgeConneX (ECX).
The company in a disclosure said AIC will form a joint-venture with ECX to put up a data center platform that will house cloud service providers’ information technology (IT) equipment targeted for firms operating in the Philippines.
“The initial data center will be located in proximity to the National Capital Region and a secondary hyperscale campus is planned to be located in the Greater Manila Area,” AEV said.
“The partnership — which will pave the way for the development of hyperscale data centers across the Philippines — will leverage on ECX’ global data center platform, build and operational capabilities, and superior ‘hyperscale’ customer relationships. This is complemented by AIC’s local expertise, assets, and infrastructure portfolio, including its 1,400 hectares of prime industrial real estate and its affiliate AboitizPower’s diversified renewable energy capacity, which the company aims to triple by 2030,” it added.
Hyperscale data centers are massive business-critical facilities designed to efficiently support robust, scalable applications of cloud service providers.
“Businesses are increasingly turning to cloud service providers – or hyperscalers – for cost efficiency, flexibility, and scalability; and thus the need for data centers has never been more demanding. This trend will continue with certainty and speed, and our efforts to seize the opportunities it offers have been proven successful with this latest landmark infrastructure deal for the Aboitiz Group,” said Sabin Aboitiz, Aboitiz president.
Cosette Canilao, AIC president, said the venture will help develop the country’s digital infrastructure ecosystem, “highlighting the Philippines’ attractiveness for data centers.”
“This focus on enabling digital capabilities also aligns well with the Aboitiz Group’s thrust to move forward through a great transformation to become the Philippines’ first techglomerate that provides life-essential services of the future,” she said.
