PLDT joins $400-M submarine cable network

MANILA, Philippines - State-regulator National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has given dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) the green light to participate in the $400 million optical fiber submarine cable network that would interconnect countries in the Asia Pacific region.

NTC approved PLDT’s participation in the ownership, construction, and maintenance of the Asia Submarine Cable Express (ASE) submarine cable network and to construct the Philippine terminal station in Daet, Camarines Norte.

The order dated July 2, 2013 was signed by NTC commissioner Gamaliel Cordona and deputy commissioners Carlo Jose Martinez and Delilah Deles.

The regulator granted PLDT a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) to participate in construction and maintenance of the ASE cable network as well as the terminal station in Daet, Camarines Norte for a period of 10 years.

NTC pointed out that PLDT’s participation in the cable network through a $55-million investment is part of the company’s commitment to other landing parties and the terminal station is already operational.

Other members of the ASE consortium include NTT of Japan, StarHub of Singapore, and TM of Malaysia. The submarine cable system was supplied by NEC Corp. and Fujitsu Ltd.