NTT WE Marine tapped for $150-M cable project

Globe Telecom, along with Eastern Communications and Japan-affiliated telco InfiniVAN Inc., have commissioned NTT World Engineering Marine Corp. (NTT WE Marine) for the last leg of the $150-million Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) project.

Japan-based NTT WE Marine is expected to land and lay cables in nine remaining project segments covering 13 sites until April this year through cable ship Subaru.

In 2021, the state-of-the-art ship Cable Infinity from Japanese vendor Kokusai Cable Ship Co. Ltd. was tapped to connect 15 segments across the country via fiber.

“With the final phase of the PDSCN in motion, we are excited to take a major step toward our goal of nationbuilding through digitalization. We are committed to completing the project to provide a #1stWorldNetwork by bringing fast and reliable connectivity to every corner of the Philippines. This is a crucial step toward bridging the digital divide, and providing equitable and reliable connectivity, which is essential for the economic and social development of our country,” Globe President and Chief Executive Officer Ernest Cu said.

PDSCN, which covers a total cable distance of 2,500 kilometers, kicked off in July last year in a bid to bring fiber connectivity to previously unserved and underserved areas.

NTT WE Marine, established in 1998, has a branch in the Philippines and offices in Nagasaki and Yokohama, Japan. Aside from Subaru, other cable-laying vessels of NTT WE Marine include Kizuna, Orion and Vega.

They added that their aggressive expansion of their network is for them to meet the growing demand for connectivity amid increased digitalization.