NT and USTDA Advance Feasibility Study for New Thailand–U.S. Submarine Cable Project
to strengthen Thailand’s international digital connectivity and support its ambition as a regional digital hub

National Telecom Public Company Limited (NT) and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) have signed a Grant Agreement to support a feasibility study for the proposed Thailand–U.S. (THUS) international submarine cable system, marking an important step toward strengthening Thailand’s digital infrastructure and enhancing the country’s long-term international connectivity.

The agreement was signed by Colonel Sanpachai Huvanandana, President of NT, and Mr.Thomas R. Hardy, Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of USTDA. The signing ceremony was presided over by Mr. Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, at NT Headquarters.

Under the agreement, USTDA will provide grant funding to NT to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study for the THUS submarine cable system. The study will assess the technical, commercial and investment feasibility of a new cable system intended to replace the existing Thailand–United States submarine cable infrastructure, which is approaching the end of its operational life.

The study will provide a strategic foundation for NT’s future investment decisions, including assessments of the project’s estimated cost, cable route options and potential investment models. The objective is to ensure that the development and investment in the new submarine cable system are technically sound, commercially viable and aligned with Thailand’s long-term digital infrastructure needs.

The proposed THUS cable system is strategically significant to Thailand’s digital connectivity. The trans-Pacific system is expected to connect Thailand with the United States via five Southeast Asian countries—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam—creating a new high-capacity international connectivity route between Southeast Asia and the United States.

The project is also expected to strengthen Thailand’s position as a regional digital connectivity hub and support growing demand for international bandwidth, driven by the continued expansion of data centers, cloud services, artificial intelligence (AI) and other data-intensive digital technologies in Thailand and across the region.

To ensure the feasibility study delivers comprehensive and actionable outcomes, NT has appointed APTelecom Limited Liability Company (APTelecom), a U.S.-based telecommunications consultancy with extensive experience in international connectivity and telecommunications infrastructure projects, to undertake the study.

The initiative supports NT’s broader commitment to developing and managing Thailand’s telecommunications and digital infrastructure, particularly high-capacity international networks that can accommodate rapidly increasing data traffic and support the country’s digital transformation.

By strengthening international connectivity, the THUS project will help enhance Thailand’s digital competitiveness and support the continued growth of the digital economy. NT remains committed to developing a secure, resilient and sustainable telecommunications infrastructure that enables seamless connectivity with the global community and provides a strong foundation for Thailand’s transition toward a fully digital economy and society.