Longest subsea cable in Philippines to be completed by April

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. will embark on a new round of cable landings in the first quarter of the year, as it readies to fire up the longest submarine cable network in the Philippines by April.

Globe yesterday said that its $150 million initiative to put up the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) is set to be completed as scheduled in April.

The PDSCN, the longest of its kind in the country, is expected to enhance internet connectivity in the regions, making the effort one of Globe’s contributions to the government’s call to promote digitalization even in remote areas.

Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu said the PDSCN would soon connect to Calatrava, Romblon; Pasacao, Camarines Sur; Bulan, Sorsogon; Calbayog City, Samar; Palanas, Masbate; Mactan, Cebu; and Maasin City, Leyte. Likewise, it would also link to Claver, Surigao del Norte, and Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental.

Cu said the PDSCN would land in Camiguin; Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte; Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte; and Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur. When completed, the project would extend for a total of 2,500 kilometers, touching on multiple points nationwide.

The PDSCN established its base in Subic, Zambales last year and has since set up sites across the archipelago, including in urban areas and tourist hotspots.

“As the Philippines continues to build a digital economy, Globe is steadfast in its efforts to bring fast and reliable connectivity to all,” Cu said.

“We are committed to supporting the government’s initiatives towards innovation, e-governance, and greater digital adoption among Filipinos through our investments in the PDSCN and in other network infrastructure,” he said.

– Elijah Felice Rosales

For the project, Globe partnered with Eastern Communications and InfiniVAN Inc. to complete the infrastructure. The consortium has deployed the state of the art vessel Cable Infinity, owned and operated by Japan’s Kokusai Cable Ship Co. Ltd., to land the undersea fiber cables.

Globe, Eastern Communications, and InfiniVAN undertook the project with the goal that the PDSCN would improve access to the internet in areas that are underserved by telco providers. The group also said that the initiative is its response to the government’s demand for additional investments in digitalization projects.

With the PDSCN set to be finished by April, Cu said this gives Globe the fiscal space to trim its capital expenditures to $1.3 billion this year from a record of $1.9 billion in 2022.

Further, the mobile giant seeks to cut its capex to $1 billion by 2024, as it looks to cash in on its previous investments in fiber assets and common infrastructure.