- The Philippines, with a large population and strategic location, is poised to become a regional data centre hub.
- Wing Cheung, CEO of BodaData and BeeInfoTech, highlights the country’s growing digital economy and potential for local and international data centre investments.
- Collaboration between the Philippine government and private companies is crucial for developing scalable, energy-efficient data centre solutions.
As the data centre industry continues to grow at a rapid pace across Southeast Asia, countries like Singapore and Malaysia are emerging as key players. However, Wing Cheung, CEO of BodaData and President & CEO of BeeInfoTech in the Philippines, believes that the Philippines holds unique advantages that could set it apart in this competitive landscape. In an exclusive interview, Cheung shared his thoughts on how the Philippines can leverage its strategic position and infrastructure development to become a diverse hub for digital services.
The Philippines: An emerging player
From the macroeconomic perspective
When asked about the advantages the Philippines might have over its neighbours like Singapore and Malaysia, which are currently booming in the data centre sector, Cheung emphasised the importance of looking at the macroeconomic perspective. He explained that digital infrastructure can serve two key purposes: one is to cater to the greater regional demand, and the other is to serve the local market. While countries like Singapore and Malaysia are focusing on the former, Cheung believes that the Philippines has enough internal growth potential to sustain its own digital economy.
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He acknowledged that countries like Malaysia are making significant strides with government subsidies and infrastructure development aimed at supporting the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. However, the Philippines, with its large population and rapidly growing Gross Domestic Product (GDP), presents a different but equally compelling case. With over 110 million people and a GDP growth rate approaching double digits, the Philippines offers a strong local market for digital services.
In the Philippines, we have the advantage of English as a primary language, which, combined with our growing digital economy, makes it an attractive option for investors.
Wing Cheung
“Countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, being the most populous in Southeast Asia, have significant untapped potential for internal consumption. In the Philippines, we have the advantage of English as a primary language, which, combined with our growing digital economy, makes it an attractive option for investors,” Cheung explained.
Strategic advantages of the Philippines
The Philippines’ potential doesn’t only stem from its population size or language capabilities. Cheung also highlighted the strategic location of the country in the context of global data flows. With over 20 submarine cables landing in the country and its proximity to major economic powers such as China, the Philippines is well-positioned to become a hub for cloud services, e-commerce, and data processing.
Given the country’s maturity, we’re seeing increased interest from nearby investors, particularly from Singapore and Hong Kong. These regions are closely connected by undersea cables, creating a robust network infrastructure that supports cross-border data flow.
Wing Cheung
Furthermore, Cheung pointed out the Philippines’ unique position within the Belt and Road Initiative. The maritime route of this initiative places the Philippines at the intersection of major shipping and data routes, which can further enhance its appeal as a data centre hub.
Cheung also stressed the importance of building data centres that are not only scalable but also energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. “We need to be mindful about not just building data centres for the sake of it. The focus should be on creating flexible, green data centres that can adapt to future needs,” he explained.
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Collaboration and the future of the Philippine data centres
Cheung envisions a future where collaboration between private companies and the Philippine government will lead to a robust and sustainable digital economy. He believes that offering complete data centre lifecycle solutions, from consulting and building to operating and managing, will be key to attracting both local and international clients.
We aim to give customers the best possible choice for their data centre needs, helping them reduce costs while scaling their operations efficiently. This, in turn, will contribute to the growth of the Philippine digital economy.
Wing Cheung
With the global demand for cloud services, AI, and data processing continuing to grow, Cheung remains optimistic about the Philippines’ potential to become a significant player in the region. “The key question for us is: Are we building data centres in the Philippines for the Philippines, or are we aiming to position the country as a hub for the broader Asia-Pacific region? Either way, the future looks promising,” he concluded.
The Philippines is standing at a crossroads in the data centre boom that is reshaping Southeast Asia. With its growing population, strategic location, and upcoming infrastructure developments, the country holds great promise for investors looking to tap into the region’s digital economy.
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About BeeInfoTech PH
Beeinfotech PH is a premier provider of digital infrastructure services and one of the largest telco-neutral data centre operators in the Philippines. The company is dedicated to helping enterprises achieve their objectives through innovative and strategic solutions. Its mission is to serve as the digital infrastructure platform where data and computing converge to support a sustainable digital economy.
Beeinfotech PH is committed to building strong client partnerships, delivering tailored solutions, and unlocking endless possibilities. As a driver of digital transformation, the company propels organisational success by providing bespoke digital services designed to meet diverse requirements. Serving a broad range of sectors, including government, enterprise, finance, and healthcare, Beeinfotech PH ensures comprehensive, industry-specific solutions for all its clients.
About BodaData
BodaData, a significant provider of integrated computing infrastructure services, boasts a core team with over 20 years of industry experience. The company has accumulated extensive resources in general, intelligent, and edge computing, with strong capabilities in infrastructure development, platform services, and computing operations. BodaData is committed to creating a unified digital infrastructure platform, integrating data and computing power to support the sustainable growth of the digital economy.
Strategically, BodaData has established large-scale computing infrastructure clusters across key regions in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Wuhan. The company is also expanding globally, enhancing the digital ecosystem through resource integration.
