NTT Data, Sumitomo, and JA Mitsui Leasing have announced plans to develop a new subsea cable system connecting Japan and South Korea to Malaysia and Singapore. The project, named the Intra-Asia Marine Cable (I-AM Cable), will be built and operated by a newly formed joint venture, Intra-Asia Marine Networks Co., Ltd. (I-AM NW).
The 8,100-kilometre cable system is expected to cost approximately US$1 billion. It will initially feature three landing points in Japan and single landing points in South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore, with a design that allows for future branches to Taiwan and the Philippines.
The I-AM Cable will deploy wavelength selective switch (WSS) technology, enabling remote adjustment of wavelength bandwidth to respond dynamically to traffic demand across routes. It will also leverage space division multiplexing (SDM), allowing up to 16 fibre pairs per cable and delivering an initial total capacity of around 320 terabits per second.
Yoshio Sato, Chief Executive Officer of I-AM NW, said the new system will strengthen Asia-Pacific’s digital infrastructure while improving resilience against natural disasters across the region.
The cable is scheduled to be ready for service in early fiscal year 2029.
