Converge to activate two subsea cables for 'quicker internet' by year-end
Telco-to-tech provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is set to activate before the end of the year two subsea cable systems that would link the Philippines to other connection points in the Asia-Pacific region, stimulating quicker internet speed and data transmission.
Converge Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dennis Anthony Uy said the company will activate the Bifrost Cable System and the Southeast Asia Hainan-Hong Kong Express Cable System (SEA H2X) in December.
Bifrost, the 20,000-kilometer (km) subsea cable system with a capacity of up to 15 terabits per second (Tbps), was announced as ready for service earlier this month.
Following this, Converge said it is in the process of installing equipment for the cable, which will also include a configuration and stress test.
Converge owns and operates the Davao International Cable Landing Station, where the subsea cable connects the country to Singapore, Indonesia, Guam, and the west coast of the United States (US).
The cable is developed by a consortium featuring Meta, PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia International, Keppel T&T, and Amazon.
Converge reached an agreement with Keppel Midgard Holdings Pte. Ltd. in 2021 to connect the country to the project, investing at least $120 million to $130 million for the connection.
Also scheduled for switch-on is the SEA H2X, which is seen boosting internet capacity and connectivity of the country to five landing points surrounding South China Sea.
Specifically, the 5,000 km cable will connect the Philippines via a connecting point in La Union to China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong.
Converge has invested between $50 million and $60 million for its linkage to SEA H2X, which has a design capacity of 160 Tbps.
The consortium overseeing the project includes China Mobile International Ltd., China Unicom Global, and irix Sdn. Bhd. China-based HMN Technologies Co. Ltd. was tapped to build the cable system.
As subsea cable systems, both Bifrost and SEA H2X support quicker data transmission among countries within their networks, resulting in faster and more reliable internet speed for consumers and businesses alike.
Through these connections, Converge is positioning itself as a telco open to serving the needs of hyperscalers, data centers, and enterprise clients.
The company is set to spend up ₱25 billion in capital expenditures this year, of which a substantial portion is for the two subsea cables.