TELECOM | PLDT’s Asia Direct Cable now ready for service

PLDT Inc. said its new Asia Direct Cable (ADC) system is now operational and commercially ready, aiming to improve the Philippines’ international internet connectivity by linking the country to key digital hubs in Asia.

The nearly 10,000-kilometer subsea fiber optic cable connects the Philippines with Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and China. The system is designed to offer low-latency links and strengthen the country’s access to regional digital infrastructure.

The ADC also provides direct access to PLDT’s data center in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and complements existing subsea cables like the Jupiter Cable System, which links the Philippines to Japan and the United States.

“As we fortify our investments in our international submarine cable systems like the ADC, we empower businesses, enhance content access for consumers, drive economic growth, support the government’s digitalization efforts, and position the country as a strategic hyperscale hub in Asia-Pacific,” said Jojo Gendrano, senior vice president and head of enterprise business group at PLDT and Smart.

He added: “Critical network infrastructure, including the ADC and our other international submarine cable systems, form a crucial part of the country’s digital infrastructure, and are key to our efforts to position the Philippines as a prime investment destination for hyperscalers and multinational corporations.”

The system is expected to boost PLDT’s international capacity by more than 100 terabits per second in the first quarter of 2025.

PLDT Chief Operating Officer Butch Jimenez said the group’s continued investments in network infrastructure aim to support the growing digital needs of both consumers and businesses.

“The PLDT Group’s network investments demonstrate our commitment to support the connectivity needs of homes across the country, increasingly digital lifestyles of Filipinos, and the digital transformation requirements of businesses and government on the whole,” Jimenez said.

PLDT said the expansion of its fixed and wireless networks, data centers, and international cable systems is also part of its push to improve internet access and support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal on industry, innovation, and infrastructure.

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