NEC Corporation has officially completed its ambitious Asia Direct Cable (ADC) project, establishing a high-capacity submarine cable system connecting multiple key regions across East and Southeast Asia. The newly constructed cable links China (Hong Kong SAR and Guangdong Province), Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, marking the latest achievement of its kind since the last intra-Asia cable was built eight years ago.
This new cable is set to transform communications across the region by supporting the burgeoning traffic demand, providing significant infrastructure improvements. According to NEC, the ADC submarine cable is owned by the ADC Consortium and boasts multiple pairs of high-capacity optical fibers, capable of transmitting over 160 terabits per second (Tbps) of data.
“This new cable marks a significant milestone, providing a foundational framework to support the ever-growing communications needs of Asia and the world,” said Koji Ishii, the Managing Committee Chairperson of the ADC Consortium. Ishii emphasized the collaborative efforts of stakeholders across various countries to overcome numerous challenges during the project. The ADC is expected to contribute significantly to developments within the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, particularly across the Asia region.
Billy Li, the Co-Chairperson of the ADC Consortium, echoed Ishii's sentiments, stating, “NEC has earned the trust of its clients, and the consortium is extremely satisfied with the successful completion of this cable.” He noted the cable's substantial capacity and diversity, which will empower telecom carriers and service providers to optimize their network and service planning for sustainable growth.
Tomonori Uematsu, Senior Vice President at NEC Corporation, expressed pride over the project's successful completion and recognized the increasing demand for bandwidth-intensive applications, driven by advancements such as 5G technology, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence. “NEC is honored to have taken part in this prestigious project,” he remarked, thanking the consortium members for their partnership and support throughout the challenging process.
NEC has long been at the forefront of submarine cable systems, boasting over 60 years of experience and having constructed more than 400,000 kilometers of cable, which is nearly ten times the circumference of the Earth. This impressive portfolio solidifies NEC’s reputation as a dependable partner, not only as a system integrator but also for its comprehensive approach to submarine cable operations, which includes the manufacture and installation of optical submarine cables and repeaters, conducting ocean surveys, developing route designs, and offering training and testing operations.
NEC's subsidiary, OCC Corporation, plays a pivotal role by manufacturing optical submarine cables engineered to withstand extreme underwater pressures, capable of being deployed at depths exceeding 8,000 meters.
The ADC project has brought together numerous influential telecommunications and technology companies within the ADC Consortium. This global alliance includes industry leaders like NT (Thailand), China Telecom, China Unicom, PLDT Inc., Singtel, SoftBank Corp., Tata Communications, and Viettel, all committed to enhancing communication infrastructure.
With the ADC and its associated innovations, NEC continues to promote its brand statement of "Orchestrated ProgressTowards Global Resilience,” facilitating businesses and communities’ ability to adapt to rapid technological changes. Through this initiative, NEC aims to support social values, ensuring safety, security, fairness, and efficiency, which are increasingly important as society navigates the challenges of today and tomorrow.
For more information about NEC Corporation and its initiatives, you can visit their official website at www.nec.com.
