ASN and OMS Group have been selected by Intra-Asia Marine Networks Co., Ltd. to build the Intra-Asia Marine (I-AM) submarine cable system, a large-scale regional network designed to strengthen connectivity across Northeast and Southeast Asia. The system will directly connect Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore, with extensions to South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan, addressing rising demand for resilient, high-capacity regional data transport.
The I-AM cable system is designed around Space Division Multiplexing (SDM) and Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) technology. With up to 16 fiber pairs (32 cores), the system supports an initial total design capacity of approximately 320 Tbps and enables remote, route-specific wavelength bandwidth adjustment. Multiple landing stations in Japan are intended to enhance route diversity and improve fault tolerance across critical intra-Asia paths.
Under the contract, Alcatel Submarine Networks will supply the submarine cable system and associated equipment, while OMS Group will lead marine installation. OMS Group is a Singapore-headquartered subsea services provider with a growing footprint across the Asia-Pacific region, specializing in marine installation, cable laying, and offshore project execution. The company has expanded its portfolio in recent years to support telecom subsea systems alongside offshore energy and infrastructure projects, positioning itself as a regional marine installation partner for large-scale digital infrastructure builds. The system owner, Intra-Asia Marine Networks Co., Ltd., was formed by NTT Data Group, Sumitomo Corporation, and JA Mitsui Leasing. Construction is planned for completion in early fiscal year 2029.
- Total design capacity: ~320 Tbps (initial design)
- Architecture: SDM with up to 16 fiber pairs; WSS-enabled wavelength control
- Total length: ~8,100 km (≈5,034 miles)
- Landing points: Japan (Chiba, Mie, Fukuoka); Malaysia (Johor, Kuching–Sarawak); Singapore; South Korea
- Target completion: Early FY 2029
“We are laying the foundation for Asia’s digital transformation, ensuring resilience, scalability, and performance for decades to come,” said Alain Biston, President and CEO of Alcatel Submarine Networks.
🌐 Analysis
The I-AM project underscores the shift toward high-fiber-count submarine systems optimized for regional traffic growth, cloud interconnect, and AI-driven workloads within Asia. OMS Group’s role highlights the increasing importance of Asia-based marine installation specialists as new intra-regional cable builds accelerate, complementing the traditional dominance of trans-oceanic routes led by global system suppliers.
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