19-12-2024 (HANOI) A major milestone in Asian telecommunications infrastructure has been achieved with the launch of a new submarine fibre-optic cable system linking Japan and Singapore. The Asia Direct Cable (ADC), spanning approximately 10,000 kilometres, was officially inaugurated Wednesday at a ceremony in the Vietnamese capital.
The state-of-the-art cable network, which has been in development for several years, represents a significant upgrade to the region’s digital backbone. NEC’s senior vice-president, Tomonori Uematsu, emphasised that the system will accommodate the growing demand for high-bandwidth applications across Asia.
The project brings together an impressive consortium of telecommunications giants, including Japan’s SoftBank, China Telecom Global, China Telecom Corporation, China Unicom, Singapore’s Singtel, India’s TATA Communications, Thailand’s National Telecom, the Philippines’ PLDT, and Vietnam’s military-owned Viettel.
Designed with multiple landing points, the cable system extends its reach through strategic branches connecting Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, mainland China, and the Philippines. This extensive network architecture aims to enhance regional connectivity and data transmission capabilities.
For Vietnam, the ADC marks its sixth submarine cable connection, representing a significant step towards the nation’s ambitious target of establishing 15 undersea cable links by 2030. The country’s telecommunications expansion plans appear set to continue, with recent reports indicating discussions between Vietnamese and Singaporean stakeholders regarding another potential submarine cable project.
