DICT to attract more data center operators
WITH continuous effort to provide the country with good internet connectivity, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) targets to attract data center operators to invest in the country in the near future.
As data is believed to be the "new oil", DICT Undersecretary for Development and Innovations Denis F. Villorete said data should be processed and monetized for the benefit of the country's economy.
"Data will not be of value if it just sits there. We need to process it. To process, we need processing capacity and storage. We want to attract data center operators to invest here in the Philippines who will bring data in so we can benefit from all of these data in paid value," said Villorente during the National ICT Summit held yesterday, June 21, at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang.
He added the geography of Philippines is very strategic in relation to other Asian countries and other continents as well. DICT Undersecretary for Management and Operation and Countryside Development Monchito B. Ibrahim even pointed out that this advantageous location of the Philippines can make the country a major info hub.
The government recently partnered with Facebook in providing free low-cost international gateway facilities (IGF) in the country similar to that in the United States and Hong Kong.
"The direction of internet traffic in Asia will be growing significantly and we need to take advantage of this," Villorente said.