InfiniVAN & Partners Land PDSCN in the Queen City of the South

CEBU CITY – InfiniVAN, Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed IPS, Inc. (TSE: 4390) and a broadband-centric Philippine telecommunications and digital solutions provider, continues its push for a future-proof digital infrastructure for the country during the recently held Ceremonial Cable Pulling Event of the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) in Mactan Island, Cebu on October 14. This joint-build project commenced last July in Subic, Zambales. A similar event was held in Siargao in September when a segment of PDSCN landed there.

The said ceremony was graced by Lapu-Lapu City’s Honorable Vice Mayor Celedonio “Celsi” Sitoy accompanied by Municipal Councilors together with the executives and representatives from InfiniVAN, Eastern Telecommunications, and Globe Telecom. This event brings the project closer to the completion of the “Express Route” of the PDSCN, which is scheduled to be completed and usable by the end of this year. The rest of the PDSCN is envisioned to be operational before the end of Q2 2023, with the southernmost segment to be landed in Zamboanga.

This $150-Million joint-build project is a partnership among InfiniVAN, Globe and Eastern Communications and involves the participation of world class technology partners and vendors including Nexans, Kokusai Cable Ship Co., Ltd, Fleet Marine Cable Solutions, Inc., SJA Business Consultancy and Liaison Services, and Kyotosh. The PDSCN is expected to deliver the advantages of fiber connectivity nationwide, including some far-flung areas in the Philippines, and help realize more reliable digital connectivity to boost business and economic growth throughout the country.

According to InfiniVAN’s Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Alberto “Abet'' Espedido, “This PDSCN Project is the biggest in terms of subsea installation in the Philippines. With Cebu/Mactan having four touch points, it automatically becomes the main hub, reflective of the economic scenario in the region where Cebu, for ages, has been the hub for commerce in the Visayas and Mindanao islands. Cebu now takes center stage in digitally connecting all the islands of the country.“

Mr. Espedido also mentioned that this project could be a precursor for the eventual arrival of international submarine cable systems in Cebu. It should be noted that today, most international submarine cable systems are landed in Luzon but the realities of the connectivity business demand that there should be route diversity for network reliability and robust performance. InfiniVAN’s Chief Operating Officer, Engr. Edgardo Opulencia, added that this particular project also augurs well for the development of connectivity-driven strategic industries such as BPOs, digital content development and hyperscale data centers among others. InfiniVAN is also set to commence the build out of its fiber optic backbone infrastructure in Cebu before the end of the year.

The PDSCN's next landing is set in Boracay Island.

Know more about InfiniVAN, Inc. and go to www.infinivan.com.

Japan-Affiliated Telco InfiniVAN’s Submarine Cable Network project with Globe and Eastern Communications marks New Milestone

Following the landmark Subic Cable Loading Event in July, InfiniVAN, Inc. in a joint-build project with two other Philippine telcos, completed the Siargao landing of a segment of the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) in the Municipality of Dapa, Siargao Island on September 22.

InfiniVAN, Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed IPS, Inc. (TSE: 4390) took part in the ceremonial cable pulling event of fiber optic cables that is part of the ongoing cable laying phase of PDSCN. Five (5) of the 24 segments have already been completed to date.

 

The cable-pulling ceremony was witnessed by Dapa Mayor Elizabeth T. Matugas, Vice Mayor Gerry Abejo and municipal officials along with representatives from InfiniVAN, Inc., Globe Telecom, and Eastern Communications. Once completed, the $150-million joint project that spans around 2,500 km will provide ultra-fast and reliable connectivity across the country.

 

InfiniVAN, Inc. Chief Technology Officer Alberto “Abet” Espedido said that aside from connecting major islands in the country, the project is designed to bring connectivity to tourist destination islands to further boost tourism and other industries in those places.

 

“We see this as an opportunity to fulfill our objective of providing connectivity to far flung areas. We hope that the project does not only provide good communications infrastructure to Siargao but also help pump-prime the island’s economy,” he said.

 

Espedido shared that the fiber optic cable technology used in the country’s biggest and longest submarine cable installation is “future-proof.” This means unrepeatered 96- core fiber cables used in the project can handle large data throughputs that can be further expanded through advances in terminal equipment over the next 20 to 25 years.

 

This InfiniVAN-initiated submarine cable project is a cost-effective solution to building a massive and extensive transmission network through a joint-build arrangement with Globe, the Philippines’ leading digital solutions platform and Eastern Communications, premier telecommunications and ICT solutions provider.

 

“We consider it an achievement, as a new entrant in the market, to be working with well-established partners on this project that will really make a difference in the next few years. It is gratifying to have so-called industry competitors join hands to provide a very precious resource to our countrymen and the country as a whole, in a most unselfish manner,” Espedido added.

 

The Express and Western routes connecting Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will be ready by December this year and the remaining Eastern routes will be completed by April 2023.

Japan-affiliated Telco, InfiniVAN, Inc., takes part in Commencement of Cable Laying Phase of Philippines’ Longest Submarine Fiber Optic Cable Network

InfiniVAN, Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed IPS, Inc. (TSE: . 4390) and bulk bandwidth supplier to the largest Philippine internet service providers (ISPs), along with Eastern Communications and Globe, took center stage in the commencement ceremony of the cable laying phase of Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) held on July 14, 2022, in Subic, Zambales.

With 20+ Tbps of lit capacity in multiple international submarine cable systems, InfiniVAN would now be in a position to distribute internet connectivity to its wholesale, enterprise and residential customers throughout the Philippine archipelago by spearheading the laying of 2,500+ kilometers of fiber optic cables connecting Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The joint-build partners have decided to utilize cables manufactured by global fiber optic cable manufacturer - Nexans. It will be the Philippines' longest submarine cable network so far.

 

This project goes hand-in-hand with Infinivan's backbone Fiber Optic Network Infrastructure push beyond the National Capital Region, where it started its network buildout after obtaining its congressional telco franchise in July 2016.

 

Having been granted authority by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to provide broadband services nationwide, Infinivan is now mainly focused on delivering bulk bandwidth for retail distribution by the largest cable TV operators in the country, whose main business has now shifted from being content distributors to that of being internet service providers (ISPs). InfiniVAN’s parent, IPS, Inc., holds a Type I telecommunications carrier license in Japan.

This $150-million joint-build project of the three telcos targets to enhance the coverage and reliability of broadband connections, both fixed and mobile, throughout the country.

 

InfiniVAN’s Chief Technology Officer Alberto “Abet” Espedido conveyed his gratitude and appreciation to the partners during the said ceremony. “I’d like to thank everyone for their perseverance, professionalism, experience, and patience throughout the whole process of getting us to this milestone, notwithstanding all the challenges that we had to face. It is indeed gratifying to see “coopetition” making these endeavors possible”. A portion of the project called the “Express Route” is set to be ready for service by the end of this year. The rest of the segments are set to be completed and usable by April 2023.

 

To know more about InfiniVAN, Inc.’s projects and services, feel free to visit www.infinivan.com.