Local fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is investing USD 100 million (around PHP 5 billion) in the joint development of a cable landing system in the southern Philippines with Singapore’s Keppel Midgard Holdings Pte. Ltd. (KMH).
KMH is a part of the consortium that is building the Bifrost Cable System. Expected to be completed in 2024 and spanning over 15,000 kilometers, the Bifrost Cable System is the world’s first subsea cable system that directly connects Singapore to the west coast of North America via Indonesia through the Java Sea and the Celebes Sea. It will connect Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Guam, and the west coast of North America.
The investment will allow Converge for an indefeasible right of use for one fiber pair on the main trunk of the Bifrost Cable System and will allow the Filipino firm to independently activate 15 Tbps of capacity.
This initiative of Converge complements the construction of its national backbone, which will allow the company to reach approximately 55% of the total households in the Philippines by 2025.
The Bifrost Cable System will boost the connectivity of the region’s governments and businesses, including cloud operators, telecommunications operators, network providers, over-the-top providers, data centers, governments, enterprises, and consumers by offering them competitive pricing and capacity resilience.
(Sources: BusinessMirror; Manila Bulletin)