Gulf and Singtel Group Forge Strategic Partnership to Bolster Submarine Cable Connectivity Between Thailand and Singapore

Gulf Development (Gulf) and Singtel Group have announced a strategic partnership aimed at developing new submarine cable connectivity between Thailand and Singapore. This collaboration seeks to solidify both nations' positions as leading digital economies in Southeast Asia. The partnership integrates Gulf's expertise in infrastructure development and its growing digital business portfolio with Singtel's leadership in submarine cable infrastructure and services. Through this alliance, both companies will invest in and develop subsea cable assets to cater to the escalating demand for cloud, AI, data center, and digital services across the region, signifying a mutual commitment to long-term cooperation and value creation. Sarath Ratanavadi, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Development, stated, "This partnership with Singtel marks a significant milestone in Gulf's digital infrastructure strategy. Together, we are establishing a platform that will enhance submarine cable connectivity between Thailand and Singapore, thereby supporting Thailand's aspiration to become a premier digital and AI economy in Southeast Asia." Yuen Kuan Moon, Group Chief Executive Officer of Singtel, echoed this sentiment, noting, "Thailand and Singapore are pivotal digital economies in Southeast Asia. Our collaboration with Gulf leverages our combined strengths in digital infrastructure and submarine cable systems to address the burgeoning demand for cloud, AI, data center, and digital services." As the inaugural initiative under this partnership, the companies will participate in the Vietnam-Thailand-Singapore (VTS) Cable System, creating a new subsea link that will bolster Thailand's connectivity to Singapore. Singtel Singapore and Thai associate AIS, the leading telecommunications operators in their respective markets, will contribute their market insights, connectivity capabilities, and customer reach to support the development and commercialization of this system. The VTS Cable System is projected to become operational by 2030, with capital expenditures spread over several years. Future investments in terrestrial cable systems and other subsea cable projects may also be considered by Gulf and Singtel. Thailand has been increasingly attracting investments in data centers, cloud services, and digital platforms. As the demand for digital and AI infrastructure accelerates, enhanced international connectivity will be crucial in supporting the nation's ambition to lead in the digital and AI space. This partnership, by strengthening submarine cable links between two of Southeast Asia's foremost digital economies, will meet the evolving needs of enterprises, cloud providers, hyperscalers, and digital platforms seeking resilient, diverse, and high-performance connectivity. This alliance builds upon existing collaborations between Gulf and Singtel Group in Thailand, particularly in telecommunications and data centers, providing a foundation for pursuing further opportunities across Southeast Asia and fostering digital investment, innovation, and sustainable economic growth in the region.