Globe lights up new submarine cable segment from Luzon to Mindanao, nears completion of inland facilities

In a major milestone in its network expansion, Globe has activated a segment of the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) from Luzon to Mindanao, signaling the start of on-ground connections to serve more customers.

Globe’s segment in the PDSCN Express Route was lit up on February 5, covering the following points:

• Lucena City, Quezon
• Boac, Marinduque
• Calatrava, Tablas Island, Romblon
• Roxas City, Capiz
• Placer, Masbate
• Palompon, Leyte
• Mactan, Cebu
• Talisay City, Cebu
• Tagbilaran City, Bohol
• Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental

“The activation of the PDSCN Express Route marks another milestone in our journey towards providing inclusive connectivity across the archipelago, especially in underserved and unserved areas. It will also enhance the reliability and resilience of our network given the country’s vulnerability to disasters and calamities,” said Joel Agustin, Globe SVP and Head of Network Planning and Engineering.

Agustin said Globe has also completed 90% of cable landing stations across the archipelago under the $150-million subsea cable project. Cable landing stations are crucial landing points for undersea fiber-optic cables, which transmit vast amounts of internet data across oceans.

“The wet segment was finished as scheduled last year. Our focus now is connecting our inland facilities. So far we have completed 90 percent and we are completing the rest by this year,” he said.

PDSCN, Globe’s fourth domestic submarine backbone, will help boost connectivity to improve customer experience for both household and business clients. It comes as a crucial addition to Globe’s network infrastructure amid increasing connectivity needs, and will serve to minimize service downtime, help ensure business continuity, and improve network security and overall efficiency.

A joint project of Globe, Eastern Communications, and InfiniVAN Inc., PDSCN covers a total cable distance of 2,500 kilometers, the longest of its kind in the country.  It kicked off in Subic Bay, Zambales, in July 2022 and laid cables in 24 segments with a total 33 landing sites connecting Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

“PDSCN is a vital component of our network expansion program and proof of our unwavering commitment to bridging the digital divide in the Philippines. We firmly believe in improving the country’s digital infrastructure to achieve a more inclusive and equitable digital future for all Filipinos,” said Agustin.

The company’s push for a #1stWorldNetwork is in support of the government’s digital transformation goals to improve connectivity across the country.

PDSCN is a critical pillar of the Digital Infrastructure sector under the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), an organization formed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to enhance public-private collaboration toward inclusive national development. As a member of PSAC, Globe Group President and CEO Ernest Cu helps ensure that the benefits of the country’s digital transformation are accessible to all Filipinos.