PLDT Targets 1-Petabit Data Capacity With Another Subsea Cable
By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad, Inquirer.net
May 2, 2023
MANILA -PLDT Inc. is currently in talks with potential consortium partners in another subsea cable project as it targets to increase international data capacity to 1,000 terabits—or 1 petabit—in the next five years.
“We are always exploring how to increase capacity based on the utilization,” PLDT deputy network head Roderick Santiago told reporters in a recent event in Makati City.
Among them was an investment in subsea cable systems, he said, noting this is likely to be firmed up “early next year” as they focus on ongoing projects for now.
Santiago said that its Asia Direct Cable (ADC) system and Apricot submarine cable projects were on track to open according to the target dates.
From the Philippines, ADC will be connected to Tuas, Singapore; Chung Hom Kok, Hong Kong; Maruyama, Japan; Quy Nhon, Vietnam; Sri Racha, Thailand; and Shantou, China. The project, slated to be completed this year, seeks to boost delivery of data across East and Southeast Asia.
ADC is a global consortium comprising PLDT, China Telecom, China Unicom, National Telecom, Singtel, SoftBank Corp., Tata Communications and Viettel Group.
Apricot provides connections to Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan and Guam. Set to be launched in 2025, the project will increase its international capacity to more than 130 terabits per second (Tbps).
Ramping up
The PLDT Group tripled its international capacity to 60 Tbps when it activated the US-Transpacific Jupiter cable system in July last year. The 14,000-kilometer cable system links a landing station in Daet, Camarines Norte and Japan.
The telco giant is also currently constructing its 11th data center, five-hectare VITRO Sta. Rosa in Laguna province.
The facility, which is designed to have a power capacity of up to 50 megawatts, is slated for completion this year.
