Globe expands data centers as PLDT maintains lead in capacity

MANILA, Philippines – The countries’ two largest telcos, Globe Telecom, and PLDT, released their latest financial reports (1st quarter, 2026), pointing to several trends in the industry.

Globe said its data center joint venture is on track to exceed 30 megawatts (MW) of total capacity within the year, as demand for AI-ready digital infrastructure continues to grow in the Philippines.

The expansion reflects rising demand for data centers — facilities that store and process the massive amounts of information powering cloud services, streaming platforms, online banking, artificial intelligence systems, and mobile apps used daily by millions of Filipinos.

In its first-quarter 2026 financial report, Globe said ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Philippines — its joint venture with ST Telemedia Global Data Centres and Ayala Corporation — achieved key milestones across multiple facilities as it positions itself to support the country’s “evolving digital and AI-driven economy.”

The company said STT Fairview 1 has completed its structure and Level 1 data halls, while commissioning for Level 2 is underway and Level 3 is already in the design phase. Meanwhile, STT Cavite 2 Phase 1 has reached “ready-for-service” status and already has active customer deployments.

“These developments position the platform to exceed 30MW (megawatts) of total capacity within the year,” Globe said.

The telecom giant also highlighted a 40.5MW renewable energy partnership meant to secure “stable and green power supply” for its data center campuses through 2035. Globe said the company is also building a pipeline of “high-density, AI-driven workloads,” backed by infrastructure designed for advanced computing requirements.

Climate, environment, and energy concerns could prove to be a headwind as private firms and the government push for the build out of data centers in the Philippines. 

PLDT’s data center arm, Vitro, currently leads in terms of overall capacity, with 100MW, led by its five-hectare campus in Santa Rosa, Laguna with a capacity of 50MW — currently the single largest in the country. 

Industry demand for data centers has accelerated globally as companies expand AI operations and cloud-based services that require larger computing capacity and faster processing. In the Philippines, growing internet use, digital payments, video streaming, e-commerce activity, and enterprise cloud adoption have also increased the need for local data infrastructure.

The data center expansion comes as Globe increased its capital expenditures by 51% year-on-year to ₱12.7 billion in the first quarter, largely to support network expansion and capacity upgrades amid data demand that continues to rise. 

PLDT’s latest financial report also points to a growing data center business. It said, “Data Center revenues grew by 10% year-on-year, boosted by sustained demand for secure, carrier-neutral facilities and the expansion of capacity,” highlighting Vitro Santa Rosa’s as the first AI-ready hyperscale data center.

Mobile data use, e-wallets’ continued growth

Beyond data centers, Globe also reported continued growth in its mobile and digital finance businesses during the first quarter, indicating sustained demand for internet connectivity and digital services among consumers.

The company said its mobile subscriber base reached around 67 million as of end-March 2026, up 8% year-on-year, supported by sustained mobile data demand and continued 5G adoption.

Mobile data traffic increased 18% to 1,810 petabytes from a year ago. Globe said average monthly data usage per subscriber climbed 12% to around 16 GB. 

PLDT, on the other hand, said its total wireless data traffic rose 10% to 1,583 petabytes in the first three months of 2026, with total active data users increasing to 44.1 million this quarter from 43.2 million during the end of 2025. 5G adoption is speeding up too, according to PLDT, with 5G device users increasing 34% year-on-year to 12.2 million, representing 20% of subscribers.

The figures suggest Filipinos are spending more time online for video streaming, social media, gaming, mobile payments, and other internet-based activities, all of which increase demand for network capacity and backend infrastructure such as data centers.

Globe also highlighted stronger contributions from Mynt, the parent company of GCash, the current market share leader for e-wallets. Globe said Mynt now accounts for 30% of the company’s net income before tax, up from 22% in 2025, reflecting consumers’ sustained and increasing reliance on electronic payments, money transfers, loans, investments, and other financial services traditionally handled through banks or physical transactions.

The PLDT counterpart, Maya, is said to be sustaining growth and profitability, according to the company, as overall deposits in the app, as of March 2026, reached P76 billion, up 73% year-on-year, and total user loans at P33 billion. 

For reaching remote areas, PLDT touted continued tests for direct-to-device satellite-powered mobile connectivity with Lynk Global in Ilocos Region that is said to “enable users to send SMS and use apps like WhatsApp even when cell services are unavailable.” Globe is expected to roll out satellite services via Starlink in June. 

PLDT also deployed Google’s Taara air laser technology in hard-to-reach communities like Barangay Subay on Talim Island in Rizal for the benefit of students and those availing government services. – Rappler.com