Philippine digital revolution opens opportunities for more hyperscalers

Tweet

With a fast-growing digital economy and strong digital roadmap, the Philippines proves to be an ideal investment destination for global hyperscalers or the massive international companies that dominate the cloud service sector.

Being one of the early adopters of 5G in the Asia Pacific region and tagged as a second ‘overperformer’ by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in terms of readiness for frontier technology use, the country has the potential to become a valuable cloud region that could provide vast opportunities to global tech giants.

The Philippines boasts of an enticing demographic having the second-largest and one of the youngest population in Southeast Asia. It also has a literacy rate of 91.6 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), that is among the highest in the world.

A report from We Are Social also showed that the country has unparalleled mobile penetration of 152.4 mobile connections and 67 percent internet penetration. Last year, the country also marked more than 4.2 million additional internet users which, overall, spend an average of 10.5 hours online, the longest time spent globally.

Likewise, the said report found that businesses have also been adaptive to the digital transformation with 80 percent e-commerce adoption. Market and consumer data provider Statista also estimated that e-commerce users will rise to 55.8 million users by 2025.

In this regard, PLDT—the largest fully integrated telecommunications company in the Philippines—has been ramping up its network and data center infrastructure to continuously increase the country’s attractiveness to more hyperscalers. To date, PLDT is already servicing a number of international content and cloud service providers by hosting their colocation, cloud, and connectivity requirements in its VITRO Data Center network.

The group – through its ICT arm ePLDT - currently owns a network of 10 globally certified VITRO data center facilities strategically located across the country, with a total capacity of 80MW and over 9,000 racks. Since network is as essential as data center reliability, all VITRO data center facilities are carrier-neutral, allowing other telcos both foreign and local to provide network connections based on customer preference and resiliency considerations.

“We believe that the Philippines has become an ideal data center location for global hyperscalers and that it is an emerging regional hub in Asia, which is why we at PLDT are continuously strengthening our infrastructure and network capabilities to support the hyperscale requirements of international tech giants,” said Jojo Gendrano, FVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

The company has been rolling out initiatives to boost its network infrastructure, such as the completion of Jupiter Cable system that is expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2022. This will expand PLDT’s existing international bandwidth capacity of 16 Terabit/s with an additional 39.2 terabits. Its wireless subsidiary Smart, meanwhile, has already introduced its 5G services that provide faster data, less latency, and less interference for better efficiency.

“With our robust domestic and international network infrastructure in place and data centers at par with the technologically developed countries, PLDT serves as the gateway to bridge more global cloud service providers and content providers to the Philippines, further making it the new hyperscaler destination,” Gendrano noted.

In support of such thrust, PLDT’s B2B arm PLDT Enterprise launched a campaign that highlights the country’s capabilities as an emerging market suited for international technological companies on the lookout for expansion amid the fast-growing demand for digital services.

This video captures why the Philippines has emerged as the next important destination for hyperscalers. Check out PLDT Enterprise’s campaign video here: https://youtu.be/8XDziWohoJE

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com. 

LG's indoor gardening appliance presents modern concept for greener, healthier homelife

Tweet

Featuring Advanced Technologies Perfected Over Many Years of Home Appliance Experience, Smart Garden Lets Consumers Grow Their Own Greens All Year-Round

LG Electronics’ (LG) updated concept of green living will be unveiled at CES 2022 with its modern freestanding indoor gardening appliance, LG tiiun.1 Tiiun, which means “to sprout” in Korean, is an apt name for LG’s newest appliance that enables even the most novice of gardeners to cultivate vegetables, herbs and even flowers in the comfort of their own homes, all year long.2 Stylish and remarkably simple to use, LG’s latest lifestyle innovation offers all the benefits of a full-featured garden without the worries of pests or unfavorable climate.

Designed as a completely self-contained unit, LG tiiun features two shelves that can each hold up to six all-in-one seed packages along with three different kinds of seed kits. With each seed package containing 10 holes for seed germination, users can grow a variety of greens simultaneously for home-grown goodness in only four to eight weeks, faster with less mess thanks to the magic of technology and LG’s advanced know-how.

A CES 2022 Innovation Award winner, LG tiiun was recognized for its innovative technology and system leverages LG’s technological expertise across multiple home appliance categories to deliver reliable results and an effortless, largely automated, plant cultivation process, employing various technologies from decades of expertise honed from developing advanced refrigerators, water purifiers and ventilation systems.

Utilizing LG’s renowned Inverter Compressor, the Flexible Weather Control System precisely adjusts tiiun’s internal temperature to create the optimal conditions for organic growth. As well as automatically regulating temperature and light to mimic the natural cycle of the day, LG’s smart gardening system delivers water eight times every 24 hours while its Auto Ebb & Watering System circulates the ideal amount of moisture to help transform the seeds into healthy greens and vibrant flowers.

The internal structure of LG tiiun is designed to increase photosynthesis efficiency, amplifying the effect of the internal LED light source to speed up the growing process. The transparent door lets users watch their plants grow while still providing an airtight seal to maintain a consistent internal temperature and keep pesky insects out. With LG’s mobile ThinQ™ app, users can monitor the entire germination process from afar, check or change settings and receive notifications when the water tank needs refilling.

A convenient solution for greener, healthier living at home, LG tiiun also provides value through its simple yet elegant design. Harmonizing beautifully with any style of interior décor, tiiun is showcased in two sophisticated and soothing colors: Nature Beige and Nature Green.

“LG tiiun is a practical and convenient solution for busy consumers who want to enjoy a greener, healthier lifestyle at home,” said Lyu Jae-cheol, president of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. “A stylish addition to one’s home or apartment, our smart gardening system makes growing herbs, leafy greens and flowers fun and simple, even for those of us with zero gardening experience.”

LG tiiun and LG tiiun mini will be on virtual display in LG’s digital exhibition booth during CES 2022 starting January 5. See LG tiiun and other innovative home appliances in LG Home.

PayMaya pays it forward to mental health frontliners

Tweet

PayMaya pays it forward to the National Center for Mental Health by giving out 100 Christmas food baskets to NCMH Crisis Hotline responders and ER and Psychiatric Acute Unit staff.

Digital financial services leader PayMaya recently paid it forward to the frontlines of the National Center for Mental Health. The company distributed 100 Christmas food baskets to the NCMH Crisis Hotline responders and the Emergency Room and Psychiatric Acute Unit staff.

"Promoting mental health is important, especially among our young people during this pandemic. We are paying it forward to our mental health frontliners who have been helping fight this silent battle. We admire them for bravely dedicating their time and effort to help those suffering from mental health issues," said Nick Wilwayco, Head of Public Affairs and Communications at PayMaya.

According to NCMH, the average volume of monthly calls they received during the pandemic nearly quadrupled versus pre-pandemic numbers. PayMaya's gift to NCMH is part of PayMaya's initiative under the MVP Group's Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko campaign, which aims to keep the Christmas spirit alive amid the pandemic.

Early this year, NCMH was also a beneficiary of the PayMaya It Forward Flash Donation Drive for COVID-19 frontliners.

5 Tips for Businesses to Achieve a Plastic Pollution-Free Christmas

Tweet

Plastic pollution in the Philippines has already reached an alarming rate and continues to be one of the top environmental challenges for the country and the rest of the globe.

According to a report released by WWF-Philippines in 2020, Filipinos consume a yearly average of 20kg of plastics, from which 15.43kg/cap/year becomes waste. Insufficient recycling capacities for high value recyclables (i.e. PET, PP, HDPE) and the high volume of low value plastics (including sachets) are some factors that affect the country’s low plastic recycling rate, at 9%. The report further estimates that the Philippines leaks about 35% of plastic wastes into the environment.

With the economy slowly opening, WWF-Philippines encourages businesses to integrate plastic pollution-free practices to fight plastic pollution. Here are some useful tips for business owners on how they can participate in creating a plastic pollution-free Christmas this 2021.

Take Accountability

Businesses should acknowledge that they are accountable to the plastic pollution problem. We want businesses to assume full responsibility for products they bring to the market. It is with accepting this that taking actions comes in from reduction goal setting, adopting circular solutions, and contributing in stopping plastic waste leakage.

Provide plastic-free options to consumers

We encourage businesses to offer plastic-free options to consumers through “bring your own” scheme and having the option to refuse unnecessary plastic items. Some major fast food restaurants are already doing this and we encourage other businesses to do so. We wish that businesses be at the forefront to consumers about reducing plastic consumption.

Segregate and divert recyclable wastes

For necessary plastics, we wish businesses to segregate and divert through partnering with recyclers and social enterprises. It can sometimes get complicated with the plastic types but it is important to start using the numbers in the plastic products to help facilitate its recycling. You can partner with a local junk shop to help identify items that they can buy. There are also a number of social enterprises like Trash Panda, Plastics by Manila Automat, Plastic Flamingo, and Green Antz, among others that offer collection partnerships. You can also work with your city/ municipality to work on models to improve the current waste management system.

Share best practices and collaborate with other businesses

Collaboration is important in working towards sustainability. It is with conversing with other businesses that are doing their fair share in reducing plastic pollution that we learn which to adopt and what to improve on in our operations. We wish businesses to work together within the industry and with other industries so we all learn how to improve our current system.

Support the EPR Scheme in the Philippines

WWF-Philippines is pushing for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), an environmental policy approach introduced in the 1990s for accelerating the transition to sustainable waste management and a circular economy. We wish businesses to take responsibility and push for an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme in the country. 

EPR relies on two factors - improvement of product design and recyclability and improvement of waste management systems - and businesses here in the Philippines have stepped up to the challenge, taking sustainability seriously, by working on both upstream and downstream measures to address the plastic crisis.

More and more businesses worldwide have gotten on board with EPR, and several businesses in the Philippines have also adopted the policy by working on both upstream and downstream measures to address the plastic crisis. With enough support, EPR can be a solid foundation for other businesses and even the government to adopt. It is currently gaining traction among legislators in Congress with House Bill 9147 or The Single-Use Plastic Products Regulation Act and Senate Bill 2425 or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2021 which both seek to enact mandatory EPR.

As we enter the holiday season, we wish for businesses to take part in our journey towards a vision of no plastics in nature by 2030.

 

 

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in nearly 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF-Philippines has been working as a national organization of the WWF network since 1997 and implements various conservation projects to help protect some of the most biologically-significant ecosystems in Asia. WWF-Philippines works to improve Filipino lives by crafting solutions to climate change, providing sustainable livelihood programs, and conserving the country’s richest marine and land habitats.

To learn more about WWF-Philippines and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), please visit www.wwf.org.ph. 

Xiaomi opens its first Exclusive Service Center in the Philippines

Tweet

MANILA, Philippines – Global technology leader Xiaomi recently inaugurated its first exclusive service center in the Philippines as part of its commitment to ramp up its after-sales program in the country.

Located at the ground floor, Serendra Wing of Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City, the Xiaomi Exclusive Service Center aims to provide its customers VIP treatment and a seamless experience, starting from the purchase of the products and up to the time after-sales support for the gadgets are needed.

“The unwavering support of Xiaomi fans has been a crucial factor in our growth this year and we want to make sure we continue to deliver the best possible experience for them when it comes to their needs. The opening of this new exclusive center signals the start of more innovation when it comes to our customer service that we are aiming to bring to more Xiaomi fans nationwide,” shared Joel Salera, Xiaomi Philippines Service Manager.

This year, Xiaomi expanded its aftersales touchpoints, growing from 10 service centers last year to opening 20 more sites nationwide; plus appointing 10 additional authorized service centers to support Xiaomi TV products. Furthermore, the Xiaomi Contact Center was established earlier this year to service customers in the Philippines and the Americas.

Xiaomi customers can look forward to more upcoming customer service initiatives as Xiaomi Philippines will continue to strengthen after-sales service support. The company is looking to expand its customer service facilities next year by adding another Exclusive Center to support mobile, Artificial Intelligence of Things (AiOT), and ecosystem products.

They will also be launching Xiaomi’s online customer service portal that will provide chat support with customer representatives and will allow them to check the status of their ongoing repairs; plus more exclusive service centers to open across key central cities in the country.

Customers who wish to avail of any after-sales services can simply drop by the Exclusive Service Center or any authorized providers and present their concerned Xiaomi smartphones or Xiaomi Pad 5 at its Service Receiving desk. A Xiaomi representative will then collect pertinent information about the device and verify its warranty coverage, and then issue a service order claim upon validation of their case. For minor concerns, Xiaomi customers can expect their gadgets within less than a day, while it might take a couple of days for more complex cases.

Enjoy exciting Xiaomi Holiday Promos

Aside from upgraded customer service, Xiaomi fans can also avail Xiaomi’s All I Want for Christmas promo where they can get an exclusive and adorable Mi Bunny plushie along with more awesome freebies when they purchase the Xiaomi 11T Series, Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, Mi 11 Lite, and the Xiaomi Pad 5 from November 13, 2021 to January 14, 2022.

Under this promo, the Xiaomi 11T with its high-resolution triple camera will be available for only PHP 21,990 for its 8GB+128GB variant and PHP 24,990 for its 8GB+256GB variant. Buyers can get a free speaker, eco bag and an adorable Mi Bunny!

Meanwhile, the refreshed ultra-slim and featherweight Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE with its 6.55” AMOLED DotDisplay, 10-bit TrueColor support, and Dolby Vision® as well as ultra-fast connection, 4,250mAh battery, and 33W fast charging, is available in 8GB+128GB for only PHP 18,990 and comes with a free eco bag and a Mi Bunny.

Those looking for substance and style in one package will be able to get the Mi 11 Lite for only PHP 14,990 for the 8GB+128GB storage variant and it comes with a free Mi Bunny and handy tote bag.

Finally, customers can get their hands on the versatile Xiaomi Pad 5 for only PHP 17,990 for the 6GB + 128GB variant and PHP 19,990 for the 6GB + 256GB variant. This portable workstation is packed with premium features that’ll boost your productivity such as an 11-inch WQHD+ 120Hz display and large quad speakers for louder, and crisper sound. Under this promo, it also comes with an awesome magnetic case for the Xiaomi Pad 5.

For more information, customers can visit the Xiaomi Philippines official stores in Lazada and Shopee. More exclusive deals on Xiaomi devices also await in their Lazada and Shopee Global stores.

For more details about Xiaomi and any aftersales concerns, customers can get in touch with the Xiaomi Toll-free Contact Center at (PLDT/SMART): 1-800-1312-0048 or (GLOBE): 1-800-8386-5529, email addresses: service.ph@xiaomi.com or mi-phfeedback@xiaomi.com or check the official website: mi.com/ph/service/repair.