In the Philippines, more than half of the population is now using the internet, with 76.01 million users. This reality happens as cellular internet connection penetrates more areas. However, this growing demand means more challenges for telecom operators to address, particularly in increasing internet connection quality in the country. They need to hasten the rollout of better and more robust signal services and even focus on ensuring that they can enable and provide a 5G connection. 

5G refers to the fifth-generation mobile network, a new global wireless standard, enabling a new kind of network connecting virtually everyone, including machines, objects, and devices. This wireless technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more consistent user experience to more users. 

While 5G is not new in other parts of the world, the rise of 5G in the Philippines is just starting. It was only launched last July 2019 and is only beginning to penetrate users in Metro Manila, which means most internet users in the Philippines still rely on 3G, 4G, or LTE. 

For Vertiv, quicker deployment is necessary to make 5G more accessible to other areas. Telcom operators should also recognize the shift affecting different industries and the challenges that must be addressed. 

“To widen the reach of 5G connection in the country, telcos should invest further. But it can be challenging given the uncertain nature of the deployment, and operators have yet to see returns of investment (ROI) from 4G investments. That is why we, at Vertiv, are here to provide solutions and help telcos navigate and evaluate the preparations they need to make 5G reach greater heights,” said Anna Dionne Chua, Sales Manager, Vertiv Philippines

Here are the areas telcos need to address and consider when they want to expand the network infrastructure for 5G deployment: 

Consider the existing sites for 5G deployment

To cut costs and make things more efficient, telcos can consider using the existing 4G sites and slowly transition them into being 5G capable. The operators must ensure that these current 4G sites can handle the initial phases of 5G deployment. These can be addressed through retrofitting without establishing or investing in new site deployments immediately. 

Strengthen management and monitoring of access sites 

Because of the higher demand, operators are compelled to increase the access sites, which can be challenging to manage and monitor. They can use a remote monitoring system to maintain these sites while reducing operational costs. 

Switch to UPS and invest in new cooling techniques 

Regarding operations, the demand for 5G is higher than for 4G sites. That is why operators need to invest in new technologies like minimizing AC-DC conversions, switching to uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems to handle the spike in power density, upgrading lithium-ion batteries, and integrating new cooling techniques to cut energy costs. These tools are expected to help, especially on the rise of 5G and the growing scale of data centers. 

Make a wise decision on 5G investment 

Operators must be ready for any changes the 5G brings and wise in making any investment. They should consider essential infrastructure readiness, site access, and quality interconnection to make 5G deployment successful. 

Control high energy costs 

Along with advancement are repercussions that operators need to acknowledge—one of which is the high energy costs. Telcos need to be more proactive in addressing the issue of the higher energy consumption of 5G. With this, they should consider adopting energy-saving and sustainable technologies to control these costs. 

The growing need for faster and more secure internet connection needs to be addressed by telcos. While it is time for them to be proactive in making measures, they should also be ready to create sustainable and efficient decisions that will benefit the industry and the stakeholders. Vertiv continues to provide solutions for businesses and organizations to promote responsible technological growth. 

To learn more about how Vertiv supports the continuity of today’s vital business, visit Vertiv.com.    

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, today released its Guide to Data Center Sustainability, an online resource for data center owners and operators seeking to reduce the environmental impact of their facilities.  

According to a report by the International Energy Agency, data centers account for about 1% of global electricity demand. The report notes that the industry was able to limit the impact of capacity growth on total energy consumption prior to 2020 by improving operating efficiency. However, in 2020, global internet traffic surged by more than 40%, and Market Intelligence projects a 13% compound annual growth rate in data center construction over the next five years. That trend, combined with increased focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption, has led some operators to seek new solutions that increase equipment utilization and drive out remaining inefficiencies, phase out water-intensive cooling technologies, and decrease their dependence on carbon-based energy sources. 

“We’re seeing a sense of urgency by operators across the industry to reduce the impact of their operations on the environment, and this new resource is designed to help them do just that,” said TJ Faze, head of ESG strategy & engagement at Vertiv. “The focus on operational efficiency has enabled significant improvements, but now new strategies and more intelligent systems are required to drive down emissions and water use as the industry continues to grow. As a provider of infrastructure solutions to enterprises, colocation and cloud providers, Vertiv is well-positioned to share best practices and new developments across these sectors.” 

The industry movement has been led by large hyperscale operators who have set goals to become carbon neutral or carbon negative by the end of this decade. These operators are taking the lead in advancing technologies that support these goals and developing a roadmap for the rest of the industry. Many colocation providers are also moving to carbon-neutral and water-efficient operations to capitalize on market demand for data center services that support their enterprise customers’ environmental goals. Enterprises must also address the impact of their on-premises data centers to support those goals. 

The Vertiv Guide to Data Center Sustainability provides guidance for operators on: 

• The business case for reducing environmental impact 

• How data center infrastructure and complementary technologies are evolving to support  higher utilization and increased use of renewable energy 
• Resources, frameworks and metrics for implementing and measuring sustainability initiatives 
• Best practices for designing and operating low-impact data centers 

“As data centers have become critical to daily business and personal activities, sustainability is now front-and-center at board level discussions among enterprises in the region. Sustainability strategies have been elevated from footnotes to real-life applications, amid the growth in compute applications from the edge to hyperscale facilities. Vertiv’s guide to sustainability aims to provide data center operators with practical recommendations on design and operations to help them meet their sustainability goals,” said Tony Gaunt, vice president for colocation and hyperscale at Vertiv ASI. 

The Vertiv Guide to Data Center Sustainability is available on Vertiv.com.  

By Alithea De Jesus

There’s a wisdom in Murphy’s adage that, Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

With the impact of rapid technological change, the need to be prudent and proactive must be considered in the practice of dealing with technology, data management, among others and be prepared for the unexpected.

The Philippines being one of the typhoon belts in the region is still in the middle of the rainy season. Hence, the country must anticipate tropical cyclones entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in the coming months.  

Typhoons disrupt operations and cause damage to powerlines, businesses and worst can wipe out data centers and all of these are essential things that enterprises must be prepared to handle.

Data is the pillar of the business, and understanding one’s enterprise’ own data will create effective and productive data collection, management and also prepare for the future-proofing of the business.

For Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, preparing for these circumstances starts with business continuity and disaster recovery plan that eliminates a common cause of data center downtime: human error.  

A carefully crafted checklist lowers the possibility of mistakes and oversights during a disaster and ensures an organization is ready for any eventuality. Among the items that must be included in the list are as follows:  

Evaluate risks. Any organization creating a disaster recovery strategy should start with this phase. What kinds of threats apply to your region? Planning is necessary for natural catastrophes like hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, fires, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Are any of your facilities close to areas where radiation exposure, hazardous waste, or explosives become major concerns?  

Secure evacuation plan. Human safety always comes first, so you should have a strategy to evacuate employees who may be in danger. This should incorporate a thorough strategy for getting in touch with workers to verify their safety. 

Weatherproof the data center. Take the appropriate precautions to protect your facility if a storm, flooding, or other weather-related threat is present. Ensure servers are safely stored in their racks and secure any loose things. Clear the storm drains and gutters. A door should be able to be sealed against strong winds and rain. Make every effort to prevent any water from entering the server rooms because water is the enemy of the data center. 

Backup data. Every week, several data centers perform routine data backups. If you anticipate bad weather, make those backups more frequent. Because we can never predict when a crisis will occur, businesses should think about adopting a daily backup routine. Think about the location of the backup data. Off-site storage should be used, but make sure the place is secure and free from danger. 

Check the generator. There is a tendency to set and forget a generator, but that piece of machinery requires maintenance and upkeep to ensure it performs as expected when needed. Is it full of clean fuel? Are the fuel line and air filter free of contaminants? Test the generator regularly and ahead of any anticipated weather events. Line up at least three vendors to deliver fuel in the event of an extended outage. Remember, fuel often is at a premium after a disaster, and yours will not be the only organization requiring delivery. 

Communicate with utilities. Think about the effects of losing a phone and internet connection, water, or power. Establish early communication with utility providers to create backup plans. Make a contact list and prepare a communication strategy if usual avenues are disrupted.  

Plan emergency staffing. Local workers might not be available to work in a significant crisis. They might have evacuated with their family, had severe issues with their homes or cars, or been unable to travel to the data center owing to impassable roads. To guarantee you have staff on-site, think about bringing in emergency services and setting up crisis housing close to the data center. 

Contact vendors. Prioritize the vendors on your list who must be contacted in an emergency. So that you are free to concentrate on more pressing demands during the crisis, get in touch with them early and make the appropriate arrangements. 

Trust your team. All parties should be gathered, including IT, Facilities, Security, HR, Communications, Legal, Logistics, and Information Security. Ensure that everyone is aware of their roles during the crisis. If the typical lines of communication are unavailable, have a plan for communicating with that team. 

Confirm insurance coverage. The first step in this process is purchasing insurance for the facility, but additional protection for the infrastructure or to ensure business continuity may be necessary. Continuity of business insurance can make up for lost revenue if the data center is down for a week. 

Remember the edge. The enterprise data center today is merely a component of a dispersed network. Many companies oversee numerous edge sites. These locations are more important than ever and should be considered when disaster planning. In many situations, the core data center will be protected from a specific occurrence, but one or more periphery sites may not be. Put things in order of importance. Also make a plan for the staff and facilities located there. 

Mind the cloud. Because some of your data and applications are stored in the cloud, it does not automatically make them impervious to disasters. These cloud servers are located in a data center, so you should know how your cloud provider would respond in an emergency.  

How frequently do they back up data? Do they have backup locations? Before a crisis arises, ask these questions since it might be too late once a disaster strikes. 

Consider the opportunists. Hackers consider catastrophes like natural disasters as a chance to access networks when people’s attention is diverted elsewhere. Ensure your information and physical security personnel are ready to deal with cyber threats. 

Business continuity planning is a collaborative process with your team that must result in regular plan updates, especially as changes are made to essential equipment and staff. Moreover, it must always include a checklist considering the items listed above.  

The right data center services provider may also join the team and adequately assist with the risk assessment required to plan for a disaster adequately. These infrastructure specialists are specially qualified to guarantee a prompt and secure recovery. 

Vertiv provides these services, assisting the data center needs of organizations in the Philippines. With its expertise, Vertiv brings together cutting-edge solutions and services to ensure uninterrupted operations, optimal performance, and scalability of data centers, communication networks, and other critical IT facilities.   

To learn more about how Vertiv supports the continuity of today’s vital business, visit Vertiv.com.