The agreement, signed on Friday, is expected to boost connectivity while driving demand for energy and supporting APECO’s growing clean energy portfolio.
APECO President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Gil G. Taway IV and InfiniVAN president Shigeki Nakahara led the signing ceremony, which was witnessed by Economic Affairs Minister Naobumi Yokota of the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines.
Digital push
Under the MOU, both parties will explore the establishment of a terrestrial fiber connection within APECO in Casiguran, Aurora.
The proposed network will link the ecozone to existing and upcoming international submarine cable landing points in Baler, Aurora, as well as to other cable systems in Claveria, Cagayan, and emerging landing corridors in Northern Luzon.
The planned infrastructure aims to strengthen Aurora’s connectivity to global internet backbones, making it more attractive for data-driven industries.
InfiniVAN, the Philippine telecommunications subsidiary of Tokyo-listed IPS Inc., currently operates one of the country’s largest international bandwidth capacities. The company has more than 20 terabits per second (Tbps) of upstream capacity distributed across over 10 submarine cable systems.
Data center hub
Officials said the collaboration is expected to support growing global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, particularly from hyperscalers seeking interconnected data center networks.
Taway said the development of fiber backhaul facilities linking APECO to international cable systems could trigger a multiplier effect, attracting data center investments to the ecozone.
“The convergence of digital and energy infrastructure is expected to create employment opportunities for local communities,” he said.
While data centers typically operate with lean teams, Taway noted that related industries—from construction to maintenance and services—could generate broader economic benefits, including job creation and skills development.
Energy demand
The anticipated influx of data centers is also expected to drive higher energy demand, reinforcing APECO’s push to develop a clean and reliable energy portfolio.
Officials said digital infrastructure and energy investments are closely linked, with large-scale data facilities requiring stable and sustainable power sources.
The partnership with InfiniVAN is seen as a key step in aligning APECO’s infrastructure strategy with national priorities on digital transformation and energy security.
Strategic location
InfiniVAN Chairman Koji Miyashita said the company supports APECO’s vision of building a future-ready economic zone anchored on high-capacity connectivity.
“Our wholehearted support to APECO’s vision is a continuation of the IPS Group’s mission of opening doors of opportunity that benefit society at large,” he said.
APECO is positioning itself as an emerging gateway to the Pacific, leveraging its strategic location and ongoing infrastructure developments, including seaports, airports, and digital systems.
The initiative is aligned with the administration’s agenda to strengthen digital infrastructure and promote regional development.
Local support
The signing ceremony was attended by local officials from Aurora, including representatives from the provincial government and municipal leaders.
Local government units (LGUs) also signed a pledge of support for the collaboration, signaling broad backing for the project.
Officials said the partnership marks a foundational step toward future commercial agreements and expanded cooperation between APECO and InfiniVAN. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
