**Candle Submarine Cable to Boost ASEAN Connectivity and Meet Rising Data Demand**
An ambitious initiative to enhance regional digital infrastructure is underway with the upcoming launch of the Candle submarine cable system, an 8,000 km, 24-fibre pair submarine cable linking six ASEAN nations. Scheduled to commence operations in 2028, the project represents a major leap forward in addressing the growing demand for data communications driven by 5G, AI, and cloud-based innovations.
### Collaboration Among Industry Leaders
The Candle submarine cable system is a collaborative effort between TM, Meta, SoftBank Corp., IPS Inc., PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera Tbk, and NEC Corporation. This joint venture will connect Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, significantly expanding the region’s network capacity and ensuring secure, redundant routes for resilient communications.
### Pioneering Design for Enhanced Capacity
Candle is set to be one of the first submarine cables in the Asia-Pacific region to utilize a 24-fibre pair design. This advanced architecture will enable substantially greater traffic capacity, positioning the cable system as a core infrastructure supporting the region’s rapidly increasing communications demand.
### Strengthening Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity
Don Pang, Chairperson of the Candle Management Committee, emphasized the cable’s importance:
“Candle represents a pivotal advancement in fortifying the region’s digital infrastructure. 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. This milestone reflects the deep collaboration among our partners and underscores our shared commitment to advancing digital inclusion and economic opportunity for over half a billion people in the Asia-Pacific region.”
### Supporting ASEAN’s Digital Ambitions
Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, Group CEO of TM, highlighted the project’s alignment with Malaysia’s digital aspirations:
“TM’s participation in the Candle submarine cable system project demonstrates our commitment to building resilient digital infrastructure that meets the growing demand for digital services and cloud-based, AI-driven innovation across Asia. It strengthens our 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. This initiative bodes well with our aspiration to become a digital powerhouse by 2030—connecting Malaysia to the world, and the world to Malaysia.”
### Enhancing Japan’s Role as a Digital Gateway
Kimimasa Kudo, Vice President and Head of the Global Business Division at SoftBank Corp., remarked on the cable’s strategic significance:
“With the rapid advancement of generative AI and the Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for international telecommunications is expected to continue accelerating. Candle adopts a 24-fibre pair architecture, making it one of the core foundations of next-generation social infrastructure that SoftBank is promoting. By integrating with other submarine cables such as Jupiter, ADC, and E2A, we 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.”
### NEC’s Expertise in Submarine Cable Systems
NEC Corporation brings over 60 years of experience to the project. Tomonori Uematsu, General Manager of NEC’s Submarine Network Division, explained the company’s role:
“NEC is a leading vendor in the submarine cable system business and has been responsible for eight optical submarine cable systems connecting Japan and Singapore, including Candle. In this project, NEC will participate as a system integrator, providing everything from manufacturing submarine cables and repeaters to route design, installation, and testing. Through the establishment of a highly reliable communication environment in the Asia region, NEC will contribute to the development of the digital economy.”
### A Milestone in Regional Connectivity
This initiative marks a significant milestone in collective partnerships committed to strengthening regional connectivity. It ensures secure and reliable international data transmission while advancing the digital growth of communities and businesses across ASEAN. The Candle submarine cable system stands as a testament to the power of collaboration in driving the future of Asia-Pacific’s digital transformation.
https://www.digitalnewsasia.com/business/tm-joins-candle-submarine-cable-system-consortium-connect-malaysia-and-asean-countries