PLDT: Submarine cable plans linking PH to world underway

Industry giant PLDT Inc. outlined steps it was taking to expand its international cable network, which would have a total capacity of 8 terabits per second (tbps) in two years, given exploding demand for internet services around the country.

PLDT said in a statement on Thursday the total capacity of its international submarine cable links (including non-Philippines terminating) would reach almost 4.5 tbps. It said this was about 140 percent higher than its capacity in end-2015.

“Further expansion programs to meet expected rapid growth in demand for internet and other services requiring international facilities are expected to bring total capacity to 8.4 tbps by end-2019,” PLDT said.

PLDT sought to highlight its plans in this area a day after the government announced it would have access to its own international gateway by 2019, through a partnership with social media giant Facebook.

“The buildup of our international cable system capacity is in step with the ongoing expansion of our domestic fiber transmission network. These two efforts support both our fiber to the home last-mile access and our mobile data networks. As a result, we will be progressively able to provide higher levels of internet service to more areas of the country,” Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT head of network planning and engineering, said in the statement.

PLDT would further boost its capacity through its P7-billion investment in the new transpacific cable system called “Jupiter.” This would further increase the capacity and resiliency of its direct undersea fiber links to the United States and Japan.

The new cable system is being built by a consortium of global companies that include Amazon, Facebook, SoftBank, PCCW Global and NTT Communications. —MIGUEL R. CAMUS