Philippines gears up for sovereign AI with renewable-powered GB300 NVL72 rollout backed by YCO Cloud, Aolani and NVIDIA

The Philippines is set to host one of the first NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 cluster deployments in the country, under a collaboration announced on September 28, 2026 , between YCO Cloud, Aolani and NVIDIA.

The partners frame the project as the country's first renewable-powered Sovereign AI infrastructure, purpose-built to meet global sustainability standards for water usage and dedicated renewable energy sources.

According to the companies, the initiative is intended to accelerate the nation's ambitions in sovereign digital capabilities and forward-looking innovation. By drawing on the combined strengths of the three partners, the collaboration is described as laying the foundation for a scalable, world-class AI ecosystem that speeds up local innovation while lifting national economic productivity.

Who does what, and when

The division of labor under the partnership is clear: Aolani brings AI infrastructure, GPU financing, deployment and operating capabilities, while YCO Cloud supplies purpose-built, sustainable and scalable digital infrastructure together with local expertise.

The initial phase is slated to go live in the first quarter of 2027, deploying more than 10,000 NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs. The rollout aims to extend state-of-the-art AI computing infrastructure to local government bodies, domestic enterprises and local startups, while also drawing innovative global AI native companies to the market. On the environmental front, YCO Cloud states it follows best practices to meet global standards for energy, water efficiency and environmental sustainability as part of its commitment to stewardship.

Executives make the case

Nik de Ynchausti, CEO of YCO Cloud, argued that the Philippines is now ready to scale on digital infrastructure, citing 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," he said.

He added that the 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, positioned the company as the leading neocloud in Asia, committed to delivering high-performance and compliant AI infrastructure at speed and scale.

"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," Chia said. He described the collaboration as playing 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.

Malacañang-adjacent backing from two departments

Government officials welcomed the announcement. 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 Cloud. Anchored on their belief in 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," Aguirre said, noting that such forward-looking collaborations are key in shaping the country's future.

Rosemarie Edillon, Undersecretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, thanked the two companies for entrusting the Philippines with a 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," she said.

The companies behind the deal

YCO Cloud states its purpose and mission are to deliver sustainable mission-infrastructure designed to drive the Philippines forward. Its digital infrastructure platform is designed for hyperscale and nano cloud deployments, anchoring the Luzon Economic Corridor to deliver next-generation infrastructure.

In related developments, the company has previously offered what it calls the first true Build-To-Suit (BTS) Hyperscale data center capability in the Philippines, following the delivery of Malvar One, its flagship digital infrastructure project, which was energized just 11 months after groundbreaking.

YCO Cloud reports having 75 MW of available utility power with 30 MW already energized. Aolani, founded in 2023 and headquartered in Singapore, operates under the tagline "Where AI gets built in Asia." The company says its AI factories enable enterprises, AI natives, and sovereigns to build with confidence, scale ambitiously, and move at speed in what it calls the world's fastest-growing AI market, backed by compliant and purpose-built neocloud infrastructure.

A sector on the move

The announcement lands amid broader momentum in Philippine digital infrastructure. The country's leading data center operators have officially joined forces to form the Data Center Operators of the Philippines (DCPH), a unified alliance aimed at strengthening the country's position as the next digital hub of Southeast Asia.