The AUG East Consortium, led by Singtel and including AWS, Microsoft, and top Asian telecom carriers, has selected NEC Corporation to construct a new trans-East Asia submarine cable system. The 8,736-kilometer Asia United Gateway East (AUG East) cable will connect Singapore and Japan via Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan. The system is expected to go live by Q3 2029.
AUG East is designed to meet surging regional demand for AI-era bandwidth and ultra-reliable digital infrastructure. The system will feature a high-fiber-pair design capable of delivering massive capacity, supporting applications like real-time AI processing, cloud interconnectivity, and millions of concurrent UHD video streams. The project is expected to bolster both regional resilience and diversity by complementing existing cable routes that are vulnerable to seismic disruptions.
The consortium comprises a mix of global hyperscalers and regional telecom providers: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, ARTERIA Networks, Chunghwa Telecom, DREAMLINE, Globe Telecom, Telekom Malaysia, and Unified National Networks. NEC, a leading submarine cable supplier, will handle turnkey deployment of the new system.
“With the surge in demand for high-speed connectivity and bandwidth needed for AI innovation in the region, the development of resilient, high-capacity digital infrastructure is more important than ever,” said Alan Tan, Chairperson of the AUG Cable Management Committee and Director of Submarine Cable Planning at Singtel.
Highlights:
- Length: 8,736 km submarine cable system
- Landing points: Singapore, Japan, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan
- Ready-for-service: Targeted for Q3 2029
- Consortium members: Singtel, AWS, Microsoft, ARTERIA, Chunghwa, DREAMLINE, Globe, Telekom Malaysia, UNN
- Supplier: NEC Corporation
- Technology: High-count fiber pair design for ultra-high bandwidth
- Use cases: AI workloads, cloud connectivity, UHD video, disaster resilience
“We will ensure the success of this project by leveraging our extensive experience as a supplier based in Asia,” said Tomonori Uematsu, Corporate SVP, NEC Corporation.