Anticipating the increase in demand for network connection as the Philippines is poised to become a hyperscaler hub, telecommunications provider PLDT officially fires up the P7-billion (around $16 million in today’s exchange rate) US-Transpacific Jupiter Cable system at an event in Manila.

At present, PLDT controls 65% of international data capacity and the 14,000-kilometer submarine fiber optic cable will further increase the capacity to 60 terabits per second. The Jupiter undersea cable links the Philippines (Daet, Camarines Norte) to Japan and the United States.

“Our investment in Jupiter will help ramp up the global trade of digital services, and propel the nation’s digital economy while increasing internet speed and reliability for Filipinos,” said Alfredo Panlilio, president and CEO, PLDT.

PLDT says completion of Jupiter Cable system will help increase int’l bandwidth capacity
PLDT activates US-Transpacific Jupiter cable to boost int’l network capacity

With 16 existing international submarine cable networks that connect the Philippines to other parts of the world, Jupiter Cable System is the first to connect the country to the United States. Leveraging Open Cable Model, Jupiter Cable System is expected to accelerate and increase the bandwidth for hyperscalers.

PLDT also revealed that two other cable networks (Asia Direct Cable and the APRICOT) are in the pipeline and are expected to be activated in the next two years.

Subsea cables

“These subsea cables enable the transmission of huge amounts of data across different countries around the globe,” explained Gary Ignacio, vice president and head, Strategic Business Development at PLDT Enterprise. “These network of cable systems are what truly links the whole world digitally, together.”

Submarine fiber optic cables are among the most critical components of the internet’s infrastructure, serving as the backbone connecting countries, carrying communications, and enabling digital services across the globe. Strengthening undersea cable links, especially those landing in the US and Japan, is crucial as the bulk of internet content and services being accessed by Filipinos — which are mostly offered by global hyperscalers — are from servers in the US, while a material portion of demand for content is served via Japan.

Jupiter Cable System will also support PLDT’s 11 data centers including the one in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, which is expected to be completed in 2023.