NBTC Backs Google-Linked Subsea Cable Project

By Khaosod English
April 27, 2026

BANGKOK — 27 April 2026, Thailand’s telecom regulator has approved an application to exercise rights under telecommunications law for a new subsea cable project linked to Google, officials said.

At its meeting No. 12/2026, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) endorsed a request under Section 39 of the 2001 Telecommunications Business Act, following a resolution by its subcommittee on rights of way. The application was submitted by International Gateway Co.

NBTC officials said the project is a collaboration between International General Company (IGC) and Alphabet, the parent company of Google. It involves laying more than 300 kilometres of subsea cable conduits, containing 11 cable lines, through territorial waters, with a landing point in Thailand. The system will also connect to Australia’s Christmas Island.

A source at the NBTC said the project uses a single conduit route housing 11 separate cable lines that can branch out to other destinations. Establishing a landing point in Thailand requires regulatory approval.

Subsea cable networks form the backbone of Thailand’s internet infrastructure. The country currently has around 10–12 systems, with at least nine already operational, including SMW3, FLAG, TIS, SMW4, AAG, SJC, APG, AAE1 and ADC (Asia Direct Cable). Projects under development include Google Cloud’s TalayLink, SJC2 (Southeast Asia-Japan Cable 2), expected to launch in 2026, and SEA-H2X.

Data from the Thai Internet and Cloud Service Provider Association shows that about 70% of Thailand’s international connectivity still relies on terrestrial links to data and internet hubs in Singapore.

The approved permit forms part of Google Cloud’s TalayLink project, a new subsea cable route connecting Thailand and Australia aimed at strengthening digital connectivity across the Asia-Pacific and globally. It marks the start of a previously announced 30 billion baht investment in regional cloud infrastructure in Thailand.

TalayLink is also part of Australia Connect, an initiative positioning Australia as a hub linking Pacific island nations and countries in the Indian Ocean via the Sunda Strait, a major corridor for existing subsea cables.

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