The consortium, led by Meta, SoftBank Corp., IPS Inc., TM, PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera Tbk, and NEC Corp., is building an 8,000-kilometer submarine cable system connecting Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Expected to be operational by 2028, the system will deliver up to 570 terabits per second of capacity—making it one of the highest-capacity subsea networks in the region.
Dual role
Globe joins as both an investor and landing party. The cable will connect to the company’s Nasugbu Cable Landing Station in Batangas, complementing another Philippine landing point in Baler.
Together, these West and East coast landing sites aim to improve network resilience by reducing reliance on a single route, particularly during natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes.
Stronger backbone
“Candle raises the bar for the country’s digital backbone,” KD Dizon, Globe Business vice president and head, said in a statement.
“With the Nasugbu and Baler landings, we are giving enterprises a more resilient path for cloud workloads, AI development, and global operations,” he added, noting the importance of reliable infrastructure in an increasingly digital economy.
High capacity
The system uses a 24-fiber-pair configuration, enabling higher capacity and lower latency. This is expected to support the rapid expansion of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and enterprise digitalization across the Asia-Pacific region.
A direct route to Japan and Singapore also positions the Philippines closer to major cloud and AI hubs, improving performance for critical applications.
Local impact
Raymond Policarpio, Globe’s vice president for strategy management and business investments, emphasized in a company statement that international connectivity must benefit local users.
He said integrating the new cable into Globe’s nationwide fiber network will ensure faster and more reliable connectivity for enterprises, small businesses, and consumers across the country.
Future ready
The project aligns with the Philippine government’s push for digital transformation and a “Cloud First” policy, which calls for diversified subsea routes and stronger global connectivity.
Globe’s role includes planning, financing, and constructing the Nasugbu landing branch, reinforcing its commitment to building a more resilient and competitive digital infrastructure for the Philippines. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
