Globe Telecom said Wednesday it activated a key segment of the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN), connecting Luzon to Mindanao, marking a significant step towards providing inclusive and reliable internet access across the Philippines.
Globe’s segment in the PDSCN Express Route was lit up on Feb. 5, covering Lucena City, Quezon; Boac, Marinduque; Calatrava, Tablas Island, Romblon; Roxas City, Capiz; Placer, Masbate; Palompon, Leyte; Mactan, Cebu; Talisay City, Cebu; Tagbilaran City, Bohol; and 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,” said Globe senior vice president and head of network planning and engineering Joel Agustin.
“It will also enhance the reliability and resilience of our network given the country’s vulnerability to disasters and calamities,” she said.
Agustin said Globe also completed 90 percent 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.