India's TCS partners with Now Telecom to bolster the Philippines’ digital sovereignty

Indian IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Now Corporation’s telecommunications arm to help fortify the Philippines’ digital infrastructure, advance financial inclusivity and support the creation of a “clean network” in the country.

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The partnership will draw on TCS’s expertise in sovereign cloud technology, cyberdefense and citizen-focused services to expand trusted networks and build resilience against cyber threats. Both companies are members of the Trusted Network Alliance under the Trusted Network Initiative, a global effort to promote secure and reliable telecom systems.

Through the arrangement, TCS will deploy its SovereignSecure Cloud platform to ensure local data control and enable the development of artificial intelligence infrastructure, while supporting operational continuity and local skills training. The Cyber Defense Suite will offer tools for cyber intelligence, resilience, vendor risk management and identity security.

Mel Velarde, chairman of Now Group, called the alliance “a significant step towards enhancing our national digital sovereignty and reducing reliance on foreign technologies.” Shiju Varghese, country head of TCS Philippines, said the company aimed to help the nation “build a resilient and secure digital ecosystem.”

The initiative will focus on four pillars: protecting national data, improving cross-agency interoperability, strengthening defenses against evolving cyber threats and ensuring sovereign control over critical systems during crises. It will also encompass projects in healthcare, digital banking and other areas intended to bring more Filipinos into the formal financial system.

TCS, which has operated in the Philippines since 2008, serves clients in telecommunications, banking, real estate and aviation. The partnership aligns with the country’s Department of Information and Communications Technology guidelines and supports its goal of a future-ready digital economy.