THE Department of Information and Communications Technology said Friday it signed a $150-million or about P8.5-billion contract with Japanese telecommunications giant IPS Inc. and affiliate InfiniVAN Inc. to expand the country’s undersea cable network and speed up digital transformation.
The new contract covers the expansion of the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network—a 2,500-kilometer undersea cable network that will interconnect Luzon and extend all the way to Mindanao, encompassing 26 hops or landing stations.
It will help build resilient infrastructure by laying optical fiber lines and develop inter-regional submarine cables.
DICT Secretary John Ivan Uy said the new contract would further enhance regional connectivity and promote economic growth as the country pushes for digital transformation.
“This agreement shows how we collaborate with the private sector with the objective of establishing a contemporary and efficient network. This network is poised to play a role in enhancing the overall stability of infrastructure in the Philippines,” Uy said.
“With the improvement of connectivity, we are providing more Filipinos the opportunity to participate in the digital transformation and digital journey that we all must share in this fourth industrial [revolution],” he said.
Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center executive director Alexander Ramos said the partnership is a testament to the nation’s growing importance in the global digital landscape.
“The investment aligns seamlessly with the country’s Digital Transformation Strategy, which seeks to leverage technology for inclusive growth and progress,” he said.
InfiniVAN is a Philippine affiliate of Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed IPS.