DICT, Japanese telco sign USD 150-M deal to expand PH undersea cable network

The DICT has signed an agreement with a Japanese telco giant to "speed up digital transformation" in the Philippines.

PH undersea cable network expansion plans

Expanding PH undersea cable network

In a statement, the DICT said it forged a partnership with Japanese telecommunications giant IPS Inc. and its affiliate InfiniVAN Inc. for the expansion of the Philippines’ undersea cable network and to speed up digital transformation.

The new deal covers InfiniVan and IPS investment amounting to USD150 million or around PHP 8.5 billion for 2023-2024 for the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network—a 2,500-kilometer undersea cable network linking key cities and tourist hubs.

DICT noted the expansion plan includes a network spanning 2,700 kilometers of fiber optic cables across the country encompassing 26 hops or landing stations, namely:

1. Batangas-Mindoro

2. Mindoro-Boracay

3. Lucena-Marinduque

4. Marinduque-Tablas

5. Capiz-Tablas

6. Masbate1-Capiz

7. Iloilo-Bacolod

8. Negros Occidental-Western Cebu

9. Zamboanga Del Norte1-Negros Oriental

10. Surigao Del Norte-Southern Leyte

11. Western Leyte-Cebu1

12. Samar-Masbate2

13. Masbate2-Sorsogon

14. Boracay-Aklan

15. Siargao-Surigao Del Sur

16. Camiguin-Misamis Oriental

17. Masbate1-Western Leyte

18. Cebu2-Bohol

19. Bohol-CDO

20. CDO-Zamboanga Del Norte1

21. Zamboanga Del Norte2-Zamboanga Del Norte1

22. Zamboanga Del Norte2-Zamboanga Del Sur

23. Camarines Sur-Tablas

24. Southern Leyte-Cebu1

25. Masbate1-Masbate2 UG Terrestrial

26. Cebu1-Cebu2 UG Terrestrial

The DICT said this project will help in building resilient infrastructure by laying optical fiber lines and developing inter-regional submarine cables.

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. This network is poised to play a role in enhancing the overall stability of Infrastructure in the Philippines, DICT Secretary Ivan 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 added.

The department said InfiniVAN, together with IPS, will assist the DICT in establishing a secure network connecting the country's islands. The support will be a Public-Private Partnership proposal to expedite the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, it added.

What do you think about this?