Philippine telcos submit US$500m national subsea cable plan to DICT
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PLDT, Globe Telecom and Converge ICT Solutions have reportedly submitted a proposal to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to build a new US$500-million subsea fibre network to boost connectivity across the Philippines.
According to a report on Monday from Filipino news site BusinessWorld, the proposed project would connect Batanes and Palawan, with branches extending to the Visayas and Mindanao. It will also be interconnected with international landing stations.
Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda revealed the proposal at a roundtable briefing last week, the report said.
Aguda said that apart from providing additional connectivity and capacity, the cable system would also be equipped with technology to detect seismic movements from earthquakes and tsunamis, enabling real-time data collection that could be used for disaster preparedness and potentially national defense.
Aguda said DICT is evaluating the proposal, which would complement the government’s National Fiber Backbone project. Phases 4 and 5 of that project are scheduled to be finished before the end of this year, the report said.
If the project is approved, it will take up to two years to complete, the report added.
