Taipei: Chunghwa Telecom Co., a major telecom service provider in Taiwan, has joined a consortium of companies to construct a new intra-Asia undersea cable system, slated for completion in 2029. The agreement was signed in Singapore with partners including Singtel, Telekom Malaysia, Unified National Networks of Brunei, Dreamline of South Korea, Globe Telecom of the Philippines, ARTERIA Networks of Japan, and Amazon Web Services and Microsoft of the United States.
According to Focus Taiwan, Chunghwa Telecom has committed over NT$2.4 billion (US$81.63 million) to the consortium based on its share in the project. The new 8,900-kilometer-long submarine cable system, named the Asia United Gateway East Submarine Cable System or AUG East, is expected to land in Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan, covering key markets in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia.
Chunghwa Telecom stated that Taiwan will host dual landing points in Yilan and Taitung, which will not overlap with the landing points of the Southeast Asia-Japan Cable 2 (SJC2) system. The new system will traverse the western waters of the Philippines, differing from the APRICOT cable system under construction, which runs through the eastern waters.
Chunghwa Telecom has invested in both the SJC2 and APRICOT cable systems. The SJC2 system was inaugurated recently, with Taiwan hosting two landing stations in Tamsui, New Taipei, and Fangshan in Pingtung. This configuration aims to enhance Taiwan's international network connectivity and provide greater resilience for the company's customers.
Chunghwa Telecom emphasized that the diversified routing strengthens regional network resilience. Like the E2A Cable announced in March 2025, the AUG East system will adopt the latest submarine cable technologies. Upon completion, the integration of these systems will establish a high-speed digital corridor between major Asian and North American markets.
The AUG East consortium is anticipated to bring together regional telecom operators and global over-the-top (OTT) media service providers, showcasing cross-border collaboration amid global political and geopolitical shifts.
The company's chairman, Chien Chih-cheng, remarked that AUG East is a crucial part of Chunghwa Telecom's 'Sea, Land, Sky, and Space' network strategy, highlighting Taiwan's potential as a digital hub in the Asia-Pacific region. Chunghwa Telecom remains committed to strengthening Taiwan's network resilience and empowering AI to drive industrial transformation and innovation.