NEC Corporation will build the Asia United Gateway East (AUG East) submarine cable system, connecting Singapore and Japan with key landing points in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan.
The 8,900โkilometer cable will significantly expand data capacity across East Asia. The project anticipates rapid increases in network traffic from artificial intelligence (AI) and AIโenabled applications.
Singtel (Singapore Telecommunications Limited), Singaporeโs largest mobile operator, leads the international consortium behind the effort. The group includes major global technology and telecom companies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, ARTERIA Networks, Chunghwa Telecom, DREAMLINE, Globe Telecom, Telekom Malaysia, and Unified National Networks.
Alan Tan, consortium chairperson and Singtelโs director of submarine cable planning, highlighted the projectโs importance. โThe demand for fast, resilient connectivity continues to surge,โ he said. โAI innovation requires robust infrastructure capable of handling massive bandwidth.โ
NEC will design and deploy nextโgeneration technology to ensure high reliability and extreme data capacity. The company expects the new system to strengthen digital resilience while supporting regional data flow and cloud services.
According to Singtel, network traffic from AI and AIโdriven applications will surpass that of traditional data by 2031. By 2033, analysts project that 62% of global network traffic will come from AI and machine learning applications.
โThis investment will drive digital inclusion and accelerate economic growth across the region,โ Tan added.
The AUG East submarine cable is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2029. It will feature a highโcount fiber pair system capable of supporting millions of simultaneous ultraโhighโdefinition video streams.
This milestone reinforces NECโs position as a global leader in submarine cable construction and strengthens the regionโs digital infrastructure for the next generation of AI innovation.
