PLDT Inc. said over the weekend it is investing about $100 million to build two additional submarine cable system to further boost its international data capacity.
“Next year, we are going to tie up with another cable system—the Asia Direct Cable System which adds about 36 terabits more capacity to our network. After that in 2024, we are trying to launch APRICOT cable system which adds another 54 terabits capacity,” PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications first vice president and head of enterprise business group Jojo G. Gendrano said.
PLDT said it would invest about $50 million each for the two new cable systems.
The APRICOT Cable project, a 12,000-kilometer cable system connecting the Philippines to Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan and Guam, is expected to be completed by 2024. The Asia Direct Cable system is set to be completed by early 2023.
PLDT recently fired up the US-Transpacific Jupiter Cable system, the Philippines’ fastest, direct data cable link to the US and Japan. PLDT invested $136 million for the project.
The 14,000-kilometer Jupiter Cable system is the newest international gateway connecting the Philippines directly from PLDT’s cable landing station in Daet, Camarines Norte to Japan and the US West Coast.
PLDT’s investment in Jupiter responds to the rapidly growing requirements for digital services and next-generation technologies and supports data-driven industries, particularly those with global operations and high-bandwidth demands such as BPOs, multinationals and global hyperscalers.
“Our investment in Jupiter will exponentially boost the Philippines’ international capacity, ramp up the global trade of digital services and propel the nation’s digital economy, while increasing internet speed and reliability for Filipinos,” PLDT president and chief executive Al Panlilio said.
Jupiter will triple PLDT’s international capacity to about 60 terabits per second, further cementing its lead in the industry and reinforcing its commitment to driving the country’s digital capabilities forward.
“PLDT is committed to powering the digital future of the Philippines and all our efforts align with the larger mission across our group: To empower Filipinos everywhere through digital innovations that unlock and share their infinite potential,” Panlilio said.
PLDT has extensive participation in 14 international submarine cable systems and one terrestrial system carrying data traffic going in and out of the Philippines.
These include the Asia-America Gateway, Asia-submarine Cable Express, APCN2 and Southeast Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 3 which are routed through PLDT’s three cable landing stations in Batangas, Daet and La Union.