Phl-China-SEA submarine cable link ready by 2024

Members of a consortium of telecommunications companies said Tuesday it is on track to implement the 5000-kilometer submarine cable system that will connect the Philippines to China and various points in South East Asia by 2024.

In a press statement on Tuesday, Converge said it hosted the consortium's recent discussion on the South East Asia Hainan — Hong Kong Express Cable System or the SEA-H2X.

SEA-H2X is a submarine cable connecting Hong Kong SAR China, Hainan China, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia (Borneo Island) and Singapore with options to extend to Vietnam, Cambodia, the Malaysia Peninsula and Indonesia.

Consortium members from China Mobile International Limited, China Unicom Global, Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions, Inc., PPTEL SEA H2X Sdn. Bhd, together with the infrastructure builder HMN Technologies Co., Limited attended the meeting Tuesday.

Hong Kong SAR — Singapore segment

Converge will have 2-fiber pairs on the Hong Kong SAR — Singapore segment of SEA-H2X. The System, targeted to be ready for service in 2024, will help businesses and consumers benefit from increasing digital ties.

"Converge chief operations officer Jesus C. Romero said, "In Converge, we have a dream and that is to make the Philippines a digital transit hub in Asia."

"The SEA-H2X project is one step towards realizing that dream where we hope to create a more vibrant industry that can position businesses for success, provide employment, and continually improve the lives of Filipinos over time," he said.

The SEA-H2X submarine cable system will consist of 8-fiber pairs between Hong Kong SAR and Singapore, with a design capacity of 160 terabits per second to meet growing bandwidth requirements in the region.