Globe’s Mindanao Subsea Cable to Boost High-Speed Internet Access

Key Takeaways

Globe Telecom is building a 48-core, 175-km submarine cable linking Zamboanga, Isabela City (Basilan), and Sulu to expand high-speed internet in the Basulta region of Mindanao.

The project includes submarine and inland fiber, fronthaul systems, landing stations, transport networks, and new core/access nodes to improve both fixed broadband and mobile data services.

Survey work is expected to start in early 2026, with full construction by mid-2027, positioning Isabela City as a high-capacity regional internet hub.

The rollout aligns with the Philippines’ National Broadband Plan to connect geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, supporting education, local enterprises, and digital inclusion.

Globe has invested over PHP 460B in capex and opex over three years to strengthen and future-proof its nationwide network, responding to data usage now exceeding 30 GB per user per month.

Why This Matters

For WiFi, telecom, and connectivity stakeholders, this project illustrates how subsea and terrestrial backbone investments shape where high-quality bandwidth becomes available next. As Mindanao gains a new high-capacity hub, downstream access networks—mobile, fixed broadband, and public WiFi—can offer faster, more reliable connections with lower latency. This creates new opportunities for local ISPs, managed WiFi providers, and infrastructure investors targeting under-served but data-hungry markets.

SkyYield Perspective

SkyYield’s WiFi offloading model relies on dense, affordable backhaul in places where mobile data demand is rising faster than traditional infrastructure. Globe’s Mindanao submarine cable will likely unlock pockets of excess capacity at landing stations, regional hubs, and enterprise sites across Basulta. That’s an ideal environment for:

Small businesses (cafés, salons, hotels, retail) to monetize their upgraded internet links by participating in WiFi offload and sponsored access programs.

Mobile operators to shift more traffic from congested RAN/Macro layers onto WiFi, improving user experience while controlling capex.

Network and IT professionals to design WiFi-first architectures in newly connected cities and islands, using SkyYield-style models to convert bandwidth into recurring revenue.

Investors to view subsea and regional fiber projects not just as wholesale transport, but as enablers of last‑mile WiFi ecosystems and neutral-host offload platforms.

As Mindanao’s backbone capacity expands, coordinated planning between submarine cable owners, ISPs, and WiFi offload partners can turn new fiber routes into on-the-ground connectivity and passive income opportunities for local businesses.