US to fund study of trans-Pacific cable to Thailand — The Japan Times
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency will fund a feasibility study for a new trans-Pacific submarine internet cable that is intended to connect the United States and Thailand and could include up to five other Southeast Asian countries. The Japan Times reports, citing an agency statement.
Planned route
The Thailand-U.S. Submarine Cable System, or THUS, could reach 18,507 kilometers. It is expected to connect Thailand with the United States via Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency said the route should avoid the South China Sea and other directions that the agency considers to pose security risks. The cable is planned to be built to U.S. engineering standards. It is also intended to replace Thailand's outdated submarine connection with the United States.
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Regional digital infrastructure
Sanpachai Huvanandana, president of Thailand's state-owned National Telecom Public Company, said the system is intended to strengthen the resilience and diversity of international networks, support the development of data centers, cloud technologies and the artificial intelligence sector in Thailand, as well as expand affordable connectivity.
In recent years, the United States has sought to strengthen its role in the construction of submarine cables, which carry nearly all international internet traffic, amid competition with China. According to an estimate by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, nearly two dozen international cables are expected to be built in the Pacific between 2022 and 2030.
The cost of THUS was not disclosed. At the same time, other estimates cited in the report suggest that total spending on the construction of new submarine cables in 2025–2027 will exceed $14 billion.
