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ePLDT Gives the Philippines its First Sovereign Cloud
Manila, Philippines (12 October 2023) – ePLDT, the ICT subsidiary of PLDT, becomes the first Filipino corporation to offer a sovereign cloud with the launch of ePLDT Pilipinas Cloud (ePPC) at the Philippine Digital Convention (PH Digicon) 2023 held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.
The ePPC infrastructure will serve the primary purpose of hosting highly sensitive government data and applications in a trusted cloud environment to help fast-track the digital transformation of the country’s public sector.
“We are proud to take the lead in launching ePLDT Pilipinas Cloud, the Philippines’ first sovereign cloud infrastructure. This affirms our support for the government’s digitalization push and our commitment to continuously power the digital future of the nation by providing the necessary infrastructure that enables inclusive economic growth,” said PLDT and Smart Inc., President and CEO and ePLDT Chairman Alfredo S. Panlilio.
A sovereign cloud is a cloud-based infrastructure and service that is owned and operated by a domestic organization. This infrastructure provides a secure, flexible, and cost-effective platform to store and process data strictly within the host country’s borders and is subject to local data protection laws and regulations.
Game Changer
Sovereign Cloud is being adopted in many countries so that government institutions maintain control and security over their mission-critical data in compliance with each country’s respective local regulations.
ePPC is proof that the Philippines can keep up with the rest of the world by employing the latest in cloud computing technology.
“With ePLDT’s technical expertise and experience in delivering multi-cloud and data center solutions, backed up by our unique understanding of the Philippine government’s requirements, we are confident we can ensure the seamless deployment and management of the country’s first sovereign cloud aligned with global standards,” said ePLDT President and CEO Victor S. Genuino.
As the government intensifies its digitalization efforts, ePPC can provide a platform for agencies and LGUs to benefit from cloud technology while effectively addressing data sovereignty and cybersecurity issues.
It guarantees strict enforcement of the Philippines’ data protection law and regulations and ensures that all sensitive data, including classified information related to national security and confidential personal information of citizens, are stored, and processed locally in a secure and compliant manner, free from unauthorized access, risk of foreign surveillance or interception, and cyber-attacks.
Enhanced Government Service
ePPC is expected to revolutionize government processes and operations, providing unprecedented security, efficiency, and greater control over their data.
The benefits of the Philippines having its first sovereign cloud will ultimately extend to ordinary Filipinos as ePPC is poised to transform the way government agencies manage their operations, resulting in enhanced service delivery.
In addition to ensuring the utmost protection of their data, government agencies can leverage ePPC’s robust infrastructure to promote efficient collaboration, drive productivity, and unlock new possibilities to better serve the people.
ePPC is also expected to help reduce latency and improve the performance and response time of critical applications which translates to better user experience.
Towards a Digitalized Philippines
“We laud the PLDT Group for their visionary approach in taking bold, strategic steps to develop the Philippines’ first sovereign cloud infrastructure. Their dedication and expertise to advancing the local ICT industry make them the ideal partner to drive this initiative,” said Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy.
In advancing its agenda to promote digital transformation and progress across various sectors, the government has cited the importance of digital infrastructure and cybersecurity in building a safe and secure digital environment.
With the launch of ePPC, the PLDT Group led by ePLDT is well positioned to continue providing viable support towards the attainment of the government’s vision of a digitally empowered Philippines.
“We look forward to the positive impact of ePPC in fast-tracking digitization and putting the Philippines on the world map as an emerging leader in cloud computing technology,” said Uy.
