PLDT urges stronger protection of subsea cables, faster repairs to prevent connectivity disruptions

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PLDT Group has called for stronger government-industry cooperation to protect the Philippines’ subsea cable networks and speed up repairs, warning that prolonged disruptions could affect businesses, banking transactions, government services, and the country’s digital economy.

PLDT Global President and CEO Albert V. Villa-Real emphasized the need to treat subsea cables as critical national infrastructure, citing their growing importance in supporting cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), data centers, and everyday connectivity.

Speaking at the Archipelagic Governance for Subsea Cables Forum, Villa-Real said protecting the country’s undersea cable systems requires coordinated efforts among telecommunications operators, government agencies, regulators, and security institutions.

“They are national infrastructure. They carry the connections that enable our businesses to operate, our banks to transact, our government to deliver services, and our families to communicate. Increasingly, they also support cloud, data centers, artificial intelligence, and digital services that will shape the next generation of our economy,” Villa-Real said.

The call comes amid growing global concerns over subsea cable disruptions, which have highlighted the vulnerability of critical digital infrastructure.

For the Philippines, an archipelagic country heavily dependent on undersea networks, Villa-Real said improving resilience should be a national priority.

He urged stakeholders to strengthen network redundancy, diversify cable routes, improve information sharing, and establish coordinated response mechanisms to minimize the impact of disruptions.

Villa-Real also called for policies that would simplify cable deployment and repairs while encouraging continued investment in digital infrastructure.

“The Philippines should not think of itself simply as the end point of international cables. Our ambition should be to become a major digital crossroads of the Asia-Pacific,” he said.

He explained that achieving this goal would require reliable international and domestic connectivity, data centers, cloud infrastructure, stable power systems, and policies that support long-term investments.

“No single company—and no single government agency—can secure the connectivity of an archipelago. It requires a true partnership,” Villa-Real said.

PLDT pushes faster emergency cable repairs

Meanwhile, PLDT First Vice President for Network Design and Engineering Arvin L. Siena raised concerns over lengthy approval processes that could delay the restoration of damaged submarine cables.

Siena said subsea cables remain vulnerable to earthquakes, natural disasters, fishing activities, ship anchors, and other maritime incidents.

Although telecommunications operators continue to invest in additional cable systems and alternative routes, he stressed that restoring damaged infrastructure quickly is equally important.

Submarine cable repairs require specialized vessels, which must obtain permits and clearances from relevant government agencies before entering Philippine waters.

Siena warned that delays in securing these approvals could prolong connectivity outages and create wider economic consequences.

“A cable fault is a technical problem. But an extended outage while repair approvals are being secured becomes a national economic concern,” Siena said.

He called for a streamlined and predictable approval process for emergency cable repairs, supported by stronger coordination between telecommunications operators and government agencies.

Siena also proposed designating submarine and terrestrial cable routes as critical digital corridors to improve infrastructure protection and reduce preventable damage caused by human activities.

“National security and the rapid restoration of connectivity are not competing objectives. We need both security and speed,” he said.

The forum, organized by The Asia Foundation in partnership with the National Security Council Secretariat, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea (UP IMLOS), and National Telecommunications Security Council (NTSC), gathered representatives from government, security agencies, academe, regulators, and telecommunications companies.

Discussions focused on strengthening governance, protection, and resilience measures for the country’s subsea cable infrastructure.

PLDT reaffirmed its commitment to working with government and industry stakeholders to strengthen the country’s connectivity networks and support the Philippines’ ambition of becoming a major digital investment hub in the Asia-Pacific region.