US support for world’s longest subsea telecommunications cable

Details: Vaughan O'Grady; Category: Optical & Fixed Networks; 07 November 2019; 5915 views

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a self-sustaining US government agency that helps American businesses invest in emerging markets, has announced that it plans to work with Trans Pacific Networks (TPN) to support the world’s longest subsea telecommunications cable.

The TPN subsea cable will, says OPIC, be a critical element of the Indo-Pacific’s digital infrastructure, ultimately strengthening networks and increasing capacity while reducing internet costs in the region.

On completion, the TPN cable will be the first subsea route to directly connect Singapore, Indonesia and the US, and will have the capability to serve several markets in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The project will be developed on terms that prioritize quality, high social and environmental standards, and financial sustainability, says OPIC.

By improving the availability, quality, and cost effectiveness of internet and communications technology, the cable is expected to serve as a driver of economic development and quality of life improvement in the Indo-Pacific.

The announcement was made at the 2019 Indo-Pacific Business Forum, which took place on 4 November during the East Asia Summit in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was co-organized by the US Chamber of Commerce and the Thai Chamber of Commerce.