Philippine telcos propose $500M subsea cable loop to end dead zones

Telecommunications companies Globe, Smart, and Converge have submitted a joint P31-billion ($500 million) proposal to the Philippine Department of Information and Communications Technology to install a new undersea cable loop. The project aims to eliminate internet dead zones across the archipelago by 2028.

The proposed route would start in Batanes, pass through Palawan, link the Visayas and Mindanao, and return to Batanes via the Pacific Ocean to ensure redundancy. The infrastructure is designed to connect to 14 existing international submarine cables, increasing the country's direct links to global networks.

Beyond improving connectivity, the cables could utilize distributed acoustic sensing to serve as a national sensor for monitoring earthquakes, tsunamis, and maritime activity. The consortium intends to complete the project within 24 months of receiving government approval, with the companies shouldering the total cost.