Japan-based SoftBank announced Monday that it is collaborating with Meta, IPS, TM Technology Services, and PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera to develop a new international submarine cable system, “Candle”, that will connect Japan and Singapore.

SoftBank said in a statement that NEC Corporation has been contracted as the system supplier.

Candle is an approximately 8,000 km submarine cable system connecting Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, scheduled to begin operations in 2028.

The construction of the Candle submarine cable system will contribute to infrastructure expansion and secure redundant routes to meet the increasing demand for data communications driven by 5G and generative artificial intelligence (AI).

The Candle submarine cable system will adopt a 24 fiber pair configuration.

While most existing submarine cable systems typically have 16 to 20 fiber pairs, the use of 24 fiber pairs will enable the construction of higher-capacity, lower-latency communications infrastructure to meet the growing demand for connectivity across Asia.

“Candle represents a pivotal advancement in fortifying the region’s digital infrastructure. As the need for robust, high-speed connectivity grows, Candle will deliver greater network diversity and resilience along this essential corridor, leveraging state-of-the-art technology,

“This milestone reflects the deep collaboration among our partners and underscores our shared commitment to advancing digital inclusion and economic opportunity for over half a billion people in the Asia-Pacific region,” Chairperson of the Candle Management Committee Don Pang (Meta) said.

As the designated landing party in Japan, SoftBank will provide its “SoftBank Maruyama Landing Station” in Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture.

SoftBank is also advancing initiatives to build new cable landing stations in Hokkaido (Tomakomai City) and Kyushu (Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture) to ensure geographic diversity and reinforce Japan’s disaster resilience in international communications.

It is noted that SoftBank has been an active participant in multiple global cable projects, including “JUPTER*3”, “ADC*4”, and the under-construction “E2A*5”.

These investments are part of SoftBank’s broader strategy to expand and diversify international connectivity, improve network resilience, and meet the growing needs of AI-driven applications, cloud services, and digital transformation in Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

“With the rapid advancement of generative AI and the internet of things (IoT), the demand for international telecommunications is expected to continue accelerating. Candle adopts a 24 fiber pair architecture, making it one of the core foundations of next-generation social infrastructure that SoftBank is promoting,

“By integrating with other submarine cables such as JUPITER, ADC, and E2A, we will further enhance the diversity and redundancy of global communications networks originating from Japan, and strengthen Japan’s role as a digital gateway for Asia,” said Kimimasa Kudo, Vice President and Head of the Global Business Division, Enterprise Unit, SoftBank Corp.

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