Converge says SEA-HK cable running by 2024

LISTED FIBER internet provider Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. said on Thursday that the Southeast Asia-Hong Kong submarine cable project in which it is a member is expected to be operational by 2024.

“The system is targeted to be ready for service in 2024, which (will) help businesses and consumers benefit from increasing digital ties,” the company told the stock exchange.

Companies involved in the South East Asia Hainan — Hong Kong Express Cable System project are China Mobile International Ltd., China Unicom Global, Converge, and PPTEL SEA H2X Sdn.

The submarine cable system will connect Hong Kong, Hainan, the Philippines, Thailand, East Malaysia, and Singapore, with options to extend to Vietnam, Cambodia, West Malaysia and Indonesia.

“At approximately 5,000 kilometers in length, the (submarine cable system) will consist of at least 8-fiber pairs between Hong Kong and Singapore, with a design capacity of 160 terabits per second to meet the growing bandwidth requirement in the region,” Converge said.

The completion of the project “will respond to the high broadband demand between Hong Kong and Southeast Asia by providing needed capacity and faster transmission, and in preparation for the coming 5G era,” it added.

Converge Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony H. Uy said the project “will serve as a crucial infrastructure to add diversity and redundancy to our international network.”

“We are truly diversifying our international capacity portfolio as transpacific demand will be served by the Bifrost, and now trans-Asia demand will be served by (this new submarine cable system),” he added.

Converge ICT shares closed 2.93% lower at P26.50 on Thursday. —