Meta, SoftBank, IPS, TM Technology Services, PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera, and NEC are collaborating to develop the Candle submarine cable system.
The project is a 24-fiber pair, 8,000-km submarine cable system connecting Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, scheduled to begin operations in 2028.
The cable is expected to contribute to infrastructure expansion and secure redundant routes to meet the increasing demand for data communications driven by 5G and AI.
This cable system will be one of the first in the Asia-Pacific region to use a 24-fiber pair cable, to support the strong demand for communications in the region.
“As the need for robust, high-speed connectivity grows, Candle will deliver greater network diversity and resilience along this essential corridor, leveraging state-of-the-art technology,” said Dong Pang, chairperson of the Candle Management Committee.
Kimimasa Kudo, VP at SoftBank. said that by integrating with other submarine cables such as JUPITER, ADC, and E2A, they will further enhance the diversity and redundancy of global communications networks originating from Japan, and strengthen Japan’s role as a digital gateway for Asia.
“With our subsidiary, InfiniVAN, as the landing party in the Baler, Aurora Province on the eastern seaboard of the Philippines, this is one of many projects we have planned in support of developing the Philippines as a connectivity hub in Southeast Asia,” said Koji Miyashita, CEO of IPS.
Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, TM’s group CEO, said the project strengthens TM’s ability to support hyperscalers, enterprises and global service providers in expanding their footprint across ASEAN, while reinforcing Malaysia’s role as ASEAN’s digital hub.
“In this project, NEC will participate as a system integrator, providing everything from the manufacture of submarine cables and repeaters to route design, installation, and testing,” said Tomonori Uematsu, managing director of the submarine network division at NEC.
