• Gulf Development and Singtel have formed a partnership to develop submarine cable infrastructure between Thailand and Singapore
  • Their first initiative is participation in the VTS Cable System, which is expected to enter service by 2030

The fact

Gulf Development and Singtel Group have formed a strategic partnership to develop and invest in submarine cable infrastructure between Thailand and Singapore. Their first initiative is participation in the Vietnam-Thailand-Singapore Cable System, or VTS, which the companies expect to be operational by 2030. Singtel and its Thai associate, AIS, will support development and commercialisation of the system through their network capabilities, market knowledge, and customer reach. The companies did not disclose their investment commitments or ownership shares.

VTS predates the new Gulf-Singtel agreement. Viettel and Singtel announced the system in April 2024 as an eight-fibre-pair route connecting Vietnam and Singapore, with planned branches to Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. At the time, the system was targeted for service in the second quarter of 2027. The latest announcement gives 2030 as the expected operating date but does not explain the change in timetable.

The assessment

Gulf is extending its infrastructure partnership with Singtel from telecommunications and data centres into subsea connectivity. Its participation in VTS gives the group exposure to the international network infrastructure serving the same Thai digital market in which it already invests.

The extent of that role remains unclear. Viettel and Singtel were already developing VTS, while the new agreement does not set out Gulf's ownership share, capacity rights, or role in procurement and delivery. Those terms will determine how much influence Gulf has over the cable and how closely it can connect the project with its wider digital infrastructure business.

For BTW readers, the system is expected to enter service in 2030. Investment commitments, construction milestones, and capacity allocations will show how Gulf's participation develops from a partnership agreement into an operating infrastructure position.

What to watch

Watch for disclosure of Gulf and Singtel's investment commitments, the VTS ownership structure and capacity rights. Route surveys, landing-station work, marine contracts and construction milestones will show whether the system is progressing towards the 2030 service date. Any explanation for the change from the earlier 2027 timetable would also clarify the project's delivery path.