Key facts
- A consortium including Chunghwa Telecom, SK Broadband, SoftBank, and Verizon Business Global will build the E2A submarine cable system.
- The E2A cable will span approximately 12,500km, connecting Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea to Morro Bay, California.
- The system will offer over 192 Tbit/s of capacity using an open cable architecture.
- The project is expected to be operational by the second half of 2028.
- The goal is to provide infrastructure for AI applications, data centers, and cloud services.
A new submarine cable system, named E2A, is set to be built across the Pacific Ocean, connecting Asia and North America. The project is a collaboration between Chunghwa Telecom, SK Broadband, SoftBank, and Verizon Business Global, who have formed a consortium to undertake the initiative.
The E2A cable will traverse approximately 12,500 kilometers, establishing crucial links between landing stations in Maruyama (Japan), Toucheng (Taiwan), Busan (South Korea), and Morro Bay (California, US). This new subsea infrastructure will feature 12 fiber pairs, offering a total capacity exceeding 192 Tbit/s. It is being designed with an open cable architecture to ensure scalability and support for multi-operator connectivity, along with advanced 18kV power feeding technology for optimized efficiency.
Alcatel Submarine Network has been appointed as the builder for the E2A system, with operations anticipated to commence in the latter half of 2028. The consortium has stated that the primary objective of the E2A cable is to provide ultra-high capacity and low-latency infrastructure, essential for supporting the burgeoning demands of next-generation AI applications, data centers, and cloud services.
Ha Min-yong, head of SK Broadband's AI DC Division, emphasized the project's role in increasing service stability and scalability to meet the needs of the AI era. SoftBank's Teruyuki Oya highlighted the growing importance of international submarine cables as information arteries, especially as AI becomes fully implemented. Chunghwa Telecom noted that the E2A cable will connect with other upcoming cables in Taiwan, reinforcing the region's status as a key submarine cable convergence center and enhancing network resilience.