Megawide, a prominent Philippine infrastructure developer, is making its foray into the digital infrastructure sector through a groundbreaking agreement to construct a cutting-edge data center in the country. This move marks a significant milestone in Megawide's strategic shift towards digital infrastructure development.

On February 28, Megawide sealed a shareholders' agreement with Evolution Data Centres (EDC), a Singapore-based company. Under this agreement, the two companies will collaborate in designing, building, and operating a state-of-the-art data center in the Philippines.

The joint venture will be responsible for constructing a colocation data center with a capacity of 69 megawatts. The project's first phase will involve a deployment of 23 megawatts, which is expected to be completed over the course of five years within a spacious four-hectare property located in Cavite. The estimated cost for the initial phase of the data center is approximately PHP16.5 billion.

This development holds immense significance for Megawide as it expands its presence in the digital infrastructure sector. Megawide's Chief Business Development Officer, Jaime Feliciano, emphasized the company's recognition of the increasingly digitalized landscape inhabited by both businesses and consumers. He further stated, "Data centers lie at the very core of this new reality."

One of the reasons Evolution Data Centres chose the Philippines for this venture was the supportive stance of the current government towards data center development in the country. Additionally, the growing demand for data consumption among the Filipino population played a crucial role in attracting EDC's interest, as stated by EDC CEO Darrenn Webb.

Evolution Data Centres, headquartered in Singapore, was established in 2021 with the strategic vision of becoming a leading pan-Asian data center platform that delivers reliable and sustainable digital infrastructure to high-growth markets.

It is important to note that the completion of this transaction is contingent upon the approval of the Philippine Competition Commission, which is expected within the next 30 to 60 days, as well as the fulfillment of all closing conditions.