- SoftBank, SK Broadband, Chunghwa Telecom, and Verizon form consortium for new transpacific cable.
- The E2A submarine cable will enhance connectivity between key digital hubs in Asia and North America.
What happened: Major telecom firms partner for E2A cable
SoftBank, SK Broadband, Chunghwa Telecom, and Verizon have signed an agreement to construct the E2A (East Asia to North America) submarine cable. The project aims to enhance digital connectivity between major hubs in Asia and North America, with landing points in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and the United States.
The consortium has selected Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) to construct the 12,500 km fibre optic cable. The system will feature 12 fibre pairs capable of delivering over 192Tbps, an Open Cable System for scalability, and 18kV power feeding technology for efficiency. The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2028.
SoftBank’s Maruyama Landing Station in Japan will serve as a key landing site, alongside locations in South Korea, Taiwan, and California. The cable aims to support AI-driven applications, cloud services, and growing data demands between Asia and North America.
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Why it’s important
The construction of the E2A submarine cable represents a significant investment in digital infrastructure. As global internet traffic continues to grow, new high-capacity subsea cables are essential for supporting data transmission between continents.
This project aligns with broader AI and cloud computing trends, with firms like SoftBank and SK Broadband investing in AI-ready data centres. The cable’s low-latency design and scalability will facilitate seamless data exchange, benefiting businesses and consumers in both regions.
