PLDT injects US$20.5m into data unit Kayana to fuel new growth

Details: Manny Pham; Category: Operators; 29 January 2026; 6624 views

Philippines-based operator PLDT has invested PHP1.215 billion (US$20.5 million) in its data analytics unit Kayana, doubling down on efforts to unlock new growth engines across the wider group.

In a stock exchange filing, PLDT said it purchased 1.215 billion Kayana shares at PHP1 apiece. Despite the fresh capital injection, PLDT’s stake in the business remains unchanged at 45%, with Metro Pacific Investments Corp and its subsidiary Manila Electric each holding 27.5%.

PLDT previously held a 60% stake in Kayana after an earlier PHP840 million share acquisition, but diluted its position after opening a share subscription to other investors. That move raised PHP523.5 million and reduced PLDT’s holding to its current level.

The operator said the investment supports growth ambitions across the MVP Group of Companies, the diversified conglomerate chaired by Manuel Pangilinan, who also serves as PLDT’s chair. Kayana, formerly known as DigiCo, aggregates and analyses data across the group to deliver personalised services and help unlock new revenue streams.

Broadly, the move reflects a growing push by operators to treat data as a strategic asset rather than a by-product of connectivity. As digital services mature, telcos are under increasing pressure to monetise customer insights, improve retention and compete with digital-native players through hyper-personalised offerings.