The $150-million Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) has reached Mactan Island, Cebu, its tenth landing site, Globe Telecom Inc. announced Wednesday, October 19.
The 2,500 kilometer-long PDSCN is a joint project of Globe, Eastern Communications and InfiniVAN, Inc. to improve the country's mobile and broadband connectivity and fiberize unserved areas.
Already, the country’s longest submarine fiber cable has landed in Lucena City, Quezon, Boac, Marinduque, Calatrava, Romblon, Placer, Masbate, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, Roxas City, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, and Palompon, Leyte.
"We hope this enables the country to be Asia's next internet hub," says Arlene Jallorina, Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Investments for Globe Business, Enterprise Group.
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“This is the benefit of a multi-stakeholder partnership," she noted. "Globe, in collaboration with like-minded organizations, is able to provide stronger connectivity services that can improve customer experience and contribute to the country’s digitalization.”
The subsea cable network is a super highway connecting all existing gateways in Cebu, including San Remigio in the northern part of Cebu, Talisay, Toledo, and Mactan.
“Now, the next step is to build the web towards the cell sites or to Filipino homes. This is what we call points of interconnection," according to Constantine Serafica, Globe Vice President for Transport Network Division.
"The goal is to establish a wide network that our customers can benefit from, which is why we value the full support of our partners and local government units (LGUs).”
The PDSCN aligns with Lapu-Lapu City's agenda to become a premier tourist destination in the Philippines, says Vice Mayor Celsi Sitoy.
"We have to be connected not only to the entire Cebu Province but also to the entire nation, including our neighbors from afar and abroad. The entry of this project can really help our cause and programs,” he elaborated.
The PDSCN delivers inclusive connectivity crucial to economic recovery and growth, supporting the needs of the government, businesses, consumers, and different sectors.
The cable was sourced from global fiber optic cable maker Nexans Norway AS.
Japanese vendor partner Kokusai Cable Ship Co. Ltd. (KCS) together with other technical vendor partners Fleet Marine Cable Solutions, Inc. (FMCS), SJA Business Consultancy & Liaison Services and Kyotosh Engineering Services brought the cable across the archipelago.
The project kicked off on July this year at the Subic Bay in Zambales, where KCS’ ship Cable Infinity started its journey to land cables in 24 segments over nine months.
The cable laying is expected to be completed by April, 2023.