Optical & Fixed Networks

USTDA backs feasibility study for Thailand-US subsea cable

The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is funding a feasibility study for a new submarine cable system linking Thailand with the US via up to five other Southeast Asian countries.

Thailand's state-owned National Telecom Public Company Limited (NT) has selected Florida-based APTelecom to conduct the study for the proposed Thailand-US Submarine Cable System (THUS), which could extend up to 11,500 miles.

The project is intended to replace Thailand's ageing subsea connectivity to the US with a new open-access system built to US engineering and security standards. The proposed route would connect Thailand with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, while avoiding the South China Sea and other routes identified as carrying security risks.

The feasibility study will assess the cable's technical, commercial, financial and regulatory viability, including route design, economic analysis and plans for commercialising capacity. USTDA said the work is intended to help THUS attract financing for construction and create opportunities for US companies to supply hardware, software and installation services.

An open-access model would allow multiple customers to buy capacity on the system on a fair and transparent basis. NT said this could improve the resilience and diversity of Thailand's international connectivity while providing additional capacity for a regional market of more than 600 million people.

The project also reflects growing efforts by governments and operators to diversify international cable routes and reduce exposure to infrastructure and geopolitical risks. For Thailand, a new direct route towards the US could support its ambitions to become a regional digital infrastructure hub, particularly as demand grows from data centres, cloud computing and AI services.

For the US, the project provides an opportunity for American technology and engineering companies to participate in the development of strategic digital infrastructure in Southeast Asia. USTDA said using trusted technology standards would help protect data carried over the system from exploitation.

NT president Colonel Sanpachai Huvanandana said the feasibility funding would help move THUS towards bankability and allow the operator to engage with US technology providers.

The study does not yet commit NT or its partners to building the cable. Its findings will determine whether the proposed system is technically and commercially viable and help establish the financing and regulatory requirements for a potential deployment.



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