Thailand Plans New International Subsea Cable Network

Nuttapakron Ngamsopa, Nation Thailand
November 6, 2026

Thailand’s state-owned National Telecom has submitted a proposal seeking THB16.1 billion in government borrowing for a new international submarine cable network. The request targets links to Singapore, Europe and Japan, replacing aging infrastructure while expanding bandwidth for growing demand from artificial intelligence, cloud computing and hyperscale data centers. The funding remains a proposal, not an approved allocation.

The proposed spending is divided among four cable systems serving three destinations. Two Thailand-Singapore systems on separate routes would account for THB6.6 billion, while a Thailand-Europe system would receive THB4 billion and a Thailand-Japan system THB5.5 billion. NT is seeking the borrowing under the 2026 emergency decree addressing the energy crisis and supporting Thailand’s energy transition.

NT says its existing cables are deteriorating and lack sufficient bandwidth for rising traffic, creating a bottleneck for Thailand’s competitiveness. The company links the proposed expansion to broader access to high-performance computing for businesses, researchers and start-ups. Its stated goals include supporting work in fintech, telemedicine and self-driving vehicles, alongside demand for skilled data and AI professionals.

The project is still at an early preparatory stage. NT says there is no feasibility study yet, and design drawings and specifications have not been prepared. Existing company premises could accommodate cable landing infrastructure, but their power systems and facilities would need upgrades. Cable installation would also require permissions from several telecommunications, maritime, fisheries and conservation authorities, with an Initial Environmental Examination required for any route through a national park.

The proposed timetable places partner searches, consortium formation and site surveys between October and December 2026, followed by an international tender for a turnkey contractor in early 2027. Contract signing, installation, service activation and formal acceptance would follow. September 2027 appears in that sequence, but delivery remains conditional on funding, project preparation, partner selection and the required approvals rather than a confirmed launch commitment.

Commercially, the proposal sets staged payments at signing, during installation and upon acceptance. Its spending plan schedules the Singapore portion for June 2027 and the Europe and Japan portions for September. NT says it already manages nine international submarine cable systems and is ready to operate the proposed network once completed, while the immediate work remains preparation and securing the necessary partners and permissions.

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