The PLDT Group is ready to help COMELEC conduct a more transparent and secure midterm elections in 2025. Its VITRO data centers will house two of three critical cluster of servers that will receive data directly transmitted by automated counting machines in the upcoming midterm polls next May.
“Fair elections are the best indicators that the Filipino people maintain authorship of their own nation's story. We believe it is part of PLDT's duty to work with Government to show how technology can strengthen democracy, and ensure that our elections are secure and transparent," said Manuel V Pangilinan, Chairman and CEO of PLDT and Smart.
“We are deeply honored to serve as COMELEC’s trusted digital infrastructure partner for the upcoming midterm elections in 2025. At VITRO, we take immense pride in operating globally certified data centers built to uphold the highest standards of security, uptime and resiliency,” said Victor S. Genuino, President and CEO of ePLDT and VITRO Inc.
VITRO Inc., the data center arm of the PLDT Group, has been an industry leader for over 24 years. It operates 10 state-of-the-art data centers, with VITRO Sta Rosa as the eleventh facility set to go live by the end of the year. It pioneered data center services in the country.
PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V Pangilinan with COMELEC Chairman George Garcia
Built like a fort, VITRO data centers are fortified with layers of physical security. It is also among the most resilient infrastructures in the country, able to withstand earthquakes up to Intensity 8 and flooding. The facility is also equipped with data center-grade generators and uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems. VITRO data centers can sustain operations for up to three days in the event of disruptive commercial power failure. It is globally certified, a testament to its capability in offering service level agreements of up to 99.99% uptime guaranteeing maximum availability regardless of the circumstances.
COMELEC is at the forefront of modernizing Philippine elections, utilizing telecommunication technology to transmit data from voting precincts across the archipelago to centralized servers in the nation’s capital. The PLDT Group’s vast network infrastructure and connectivity and technology solutions help enable this consequential process. Its top-tier data center services will ensure the security and integrity of next year’s polls.
The PLDT Group continues to enhance its integrated network and innovate its products and services to democratize access to the latest technologies like 5G, enable 5G for all, and deliver leveled-up customer experience across the country. Smart's award-winning mobile network, recently recognized for delivering the Philippines' Best 5G Coverage Experience, according to the latest report by independent analytics firm Opensignal, covers 97% of the population and is part of the Philippines’ largest integrated network that includes PLDT’s most extensive fiber infrastructure.
The PLDT Group’s efforts to collaborate with the government by providing technology that strengthens democracy, highlights its commitment to the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16 on strong institutions.