US Trade Agency Funds Trans-Pacific Submarine Cable Study

The United States Trade and Development Agency announced funding on Monday for a feasibility study to develop a new trans-Pacific submarine cable. The proposed infrastructure would span up to 11,500 miles, linking the United States with Thailand and potentially five other Southeast Asian nations, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The project is designed to replace Thailand's aging subsea connection to the US and expand secure digital infrastructure across the region. To ensure reliability and security, the agency specified that the cable will be built to US engineering standards. To mitigate security risks, the agency stated the route will avoid the South China Sea.