SoftBank Corp. is working with Meta, IPS Inc., TM Technology Services Sdn. Bhd., and PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera Tbk to build a new submarine cable system called Candle that will connect Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

The project, with NEC as the system supplier, will span about 8,000 km and is scheduled to start operations in 2028.

Candle will use 24 fiber pairs, more than most existing submarine cable systems, to increase capacity and lower latency for data traffic in Asia.

SoftBank will provide its SoftBank Maruyama Landing Station in Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture, and is advancing plans to build new landing stations in Tomakomai City, Hokkaido, and Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture, to boost network resilience.

SoftBank has previously joined global cable projects such as JUPITER, ADC, and the under-construction E2A.

🔗 Source: SoftBank

Recent SoftBank developments