Globe sees ballooning data center demand

MANILA, Philippines — Globe Telecom Inc. said data center demand is surging with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), outpacing current capacity.

Through STT GDC Philippines, its joint venture with Ayala Corp. and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, Globe operates nine data centers with a combined IT load of 146 megawatts.

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“We are having a hard time coping with the demand right now for data centers,” Globe president and CEO Carl Cruz said, adding the company is working “doubly hard” to capture growth.

At its STT Fairview facility, the first level is fully sold out, with expansion underway. The first phase of STT Cavite 2 is operational, with further development planned.

Globe is on track to exceed 30 MW of operational capacity by end-2026, while nationwide capacity remains below 200 MW, according to the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

The company said demand is driven by firms spending more on cloud, cybersecurity and AI solutions. Cruz said Globe has received “a lot of queries” for AI-related products.

Globe also sees potential upside from the planned Pax Silica hub in New Clark City.

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“Pax Silica in the country would actually introduce high foreign investments, high-tech infrastructure, the employment of talents and the training of our workers. So, this is a welcome development for the country,” Globe counsel Froilan Castelo said.

“But then again, Globe is always wary of some environmental and geopolitical issues which should be addressed by the government,” Castelo added.

Globe said it supports Pax Silica but with “some guardrails and safety nets.” /pai