Meta, SoftBank Corp., IPS Inc., TM Technology Services Sdn. Bhd., PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera Tbk, and NEC Corporation are collaborating to develop the Candle submarine cable system, a 24-fiber pair, 8,000 km submarine cable system connecting Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, according to the companies’ joint statement yesterday.
Scheduled to begin operations in 2028, the cable system will be one of the first in the Asia-Pacific region to use a 24-fiber pair cable, to support infrastructure expansion and secure redundant routes to meet the increasing demand for data communications driven by 5G and AI. A 24-fiber pair (FP) configuration offers greater capacity and lower latency than many existing submarine cable systems.
The construction of Candle will be carried out by the supplier, NEC Corporation.
In the Philippines, Candle will connect to the international submarine Cable Landing Station (CLS) in Baler, on the east coast of Luzon Island. The CLS, constructed and operated by IPS Inc, is one of Asia’s most advanced landing stations, and will also function as a gateway to the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN), the largest fiber-optic network in the Philippines.
Candle submarine cable system route
Chairperson of the Candle Management Committee, Don Pang, said: “Candle represents a pivotal advancement in fortifying the region’s digital infrastructure. As the need for robust, high-speed connectivity grows, Candle will deliver greater network diversity and resilience along this essential corridor, leveraging state-of-the-art technology. This milestone reflects the deep collaboration among our partners and underscores our shared commitment to advancing digital inclusion and economic opportunity for over half a billion people in the Asia-Pacific region.”
“At Meta, we imagine a future where everyone has access to AI, personal superintelligence, and other emerging technologies to improve their lives and connect with each other. This is part of our commitment to seamlessly bring people together no matter where they are in the world,” said Nico Roerich, Director, APAC Network Investments, Meta.
Koji Miyashita, CEO of IPS, Inc. said, “Our participation in this project reaffirms our commitment to play a significant role in the further development of digital infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region, which is vital to our operations in Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore. With our subsidiary, InfiniVAN, as the landing party in the Baler, Aurora Province on the eastern seaboard of the Philippines, this is one of many projects we have planned in support of developing the Philippines as a connectivity hub in Southeast Asia.”
“With the rapid advancement of generative AI and the Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for international telecommunications is expected to continue accelerating. CANDLE adopts a 24-fiber- pair architecture, making it one of the core foundations of next-generation social infrastructure that SoftBank is promoting. By integrating with other submarine cables such as JUPITER, ADC, and E2A, we will further enhance the diversity and redundancy of global communications networks originating from Japan, and strengthen Japan’s role as a digital gateway for Asia,” said Kimimasa Kudo, Vice President and Head of Global Business Division, Enterprise Unit, SoftBank Corp.
“NEC is a leading vendor in the submarine cable system business with over 60 years of experience. NEC is particularly strong in leading subsea projects in the Asia-Pacific region, having been responsible for eight optical submarine cable systems connecting Japan and Singapore, including ‘Candle.’ In this project, NEC will participate as a system integrator, providing everything from the manufacture of submarine cables and repeaters to route design, installation, and testing. Through the establishment of a highly reliable communication environment in the Asia region, NEC will contribute to the development of the digital economy,” said Tomonori Uematsu, Managing Director, Submarine Network Division, NEC Corporation.
“TM’s participation in the Candle submarine cable system project demonstrates our commitment to building resilient digital infrastructure that meets the growing demand for digital services and cloud- based, AI-driven innovation across Asia. It strengthens our ability to support hyperscalers, enterprises and global service providers in expanding their footprint across ASEAN, while reinforcing Malaysia’s role as ASEAN’s digital hub. This initiative bodes well with our aspiration to become a Digital Powerhouse by 2030—connecting Malaysia to the world, and the world to Malaysia,” said Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, TM’s Group Chief Executive Officer.
“XLSMART will fully support the project and we believe the Candle cable will bring benefits for all consortium parties and Indonesia,” commented Feby Sallyanto, Chief of Enterprise, PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera Tbk.