PLDT Inc. has secured government approval to construct cable landing stations for its ambitious 12,000-kilometer international subsea cable initiative. This project aims to bolster data capacity in response to the increasing demand brought about by the surge in digitalization.
The National Telecommunications Commission has granted provisional authority for the construction of two new cable landing stations in Baler and Davao as part of PLDT’s Apricot cable system.
The completion of this submarine cable project is anticipated by early 2025 and will provide crucial connections to Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Guam. Once operational, PLDT’s international capacity will soar to over 130 terabits per second (Tbps).
Alfredo Panlilio, the President and CEO of PLDT, emphasized that the Apricot cable system’s route offers enhanced resilience. The Baler and Davao cable landing stations will provide alternate sites facing the Pacific, facilitating smoother connections to data offices in the US.
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PLDT significantly increased its international capacity to 60 Tbps when it activated the US-Transpacific Jupiter cable system in the previous year. This 14,000-kilometer (km) cable system links a landing station in Daet, Camarines Norte, to Japan.
Additionally, the company is on track to finalize the construction of the 9,400-km Asia Direct Cable (ADC) system this year. This cable system will connect the Philippines to various locations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
As of the first quarter, PLDT’s total fiber footprint exceeded 1.1 million km, encompassing over 231,000 km of international fiber and more than 874,000 km of domestic fiber.
To complement its fiber cable projects, PLDT has been making substantial investments in data centers. The company is currently constructing its 11th data center, VITRO Sta. Rosa, which is slated to go live by early next year with a capacity of 50 megawatts (MW).
Moreover, PLDT recently announced plans to establish a 12th data center with a minimum capacity of 100 MW, envisioning the Philippines to become the next hyperscaler hub in Asia.