The Philippines is poised to take a significant step forward in sovereign artificial intelligence capabilities with the announcement that YCO Cloud is collaborating with Aolani and NVIDIA to deliver one of the first NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 cluster deployments in the country. The project, scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2027, will deploy more than 10,000 NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs, extending state-of-the-art AI computing infrastructure to local government bodies, domestic enterprises, and startups, while also attracting global AI-native companies.
This matters because it represents the first purpose-built sovereign AI infrastructure in the Philippines, designed and implemented to meet global sustainability standards for water usage and powered by dedicated renewable energy sources. By keeping advanced AI computing within national borders, the initiative aims to accelerate the country's digital capabilities, foster local innovation, and drive national economic productivity. The collaboration combines Aolani's expertise in AI infrastructure, GPU financing, deployment, and operations with YCO's delivery of sustainable, scalable digital infrastructure and local know-how.
Nik de Ynchausti, CEO of YCO Cloud, explained the strategic rationale: "The Philippines is now ready to scale on digital infrastructure with its robust submarine cable systems and growing renewable energy sources. To deliver a product that hasn't been built in the Philippines, we partnered with Science Park of the Philippines Inc. (SPPI), the pioneer and one of the largest industrial park developers in the country, with best-in-country power, water and connectivity infrastructure aligned with our sustainability goals. Our partnerships with Aolani and SPPI complement YCO Cloud's commitment to deliver green digital infrastructure to contribute to the next wave of growth in the country."
Nicholas Chia, CEO at Aolani, highlighted the regional significance: "As the leading neocloud in Asia, Aolani is committed to delivering high-performance and compliant AI infrastructure at speed and scale to support our customers operating at the forefront of AI innovation. Southeast Asia is fast becoming a key linchpin for global AI infrastructure, and the Philippines is emerging as a dynamic new market for digital infrastructure growth. This collaboration will play a pivotal role in democratising access to advanced AI infrastructure in the Philippines, supporting the growth of the country's digital economy and AI ecosystem."
The Philippine government has welcomed the partnership. Leandro Angelo Y. Aguirre, Undersecretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, said, "AI presents significant opportunities for innovation, job creation, and economic growth for the Philippines and Filipinos. We welcome the efforts of homegrown companies like YCO and its Singaporean partner, Aolani. Anchored on their belief on the country's potential, we appreciate the commitment of both companies to work towards enabling Filipinos to become not just users but also builders and developers of AI."
Rosemarie Edillon, Undersecretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, added, "We thank YCO and Aolani for entrusting the Philippines with this significant role in AI infrastructure development. As we enter the Fifth Industrial Revolution, the Philippine Government stands ready to be an active partner in building a trusted, inclusive and ethical AI ecosystem for the Philippines and the world."
For YCO Cloud, the initiative aligns with its mission to deliver sustainable mission-infrastructure designed to drive the Philippines forward. More information is available at https://www.ycocloud.com/. Aolani, founded in 2023 and headquartered in Singapore, enables enterprises, AI natives, and sovereigns to build with confidence through its AI factories; further details can be found at www.aolani.com.
By anchoring AI infrastructure in the Philippines with renewable energy and global-class technology, the collaboration positions the country as a rising player in the region's AI landscape, with implications for job creation, digital sovereignty, and long-term economic competitiveness.
