NBTC backs Google-linked subsea cable project

Thailand's telecom regulator has approved an application to exercise rights under telecommunications law for a new subsea cable project linked to Google, officials confirmed on April 27, 2026.

At its meeting No. 12/2026, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) endorsed a request under Section 39 of the 2001 Telecommunications Business Act, following a resolution by its subcommittee on rights of way. International Gateway Co. submitted the application for this collaboration between International General Company (IGC) and Alphabet, Google's parent company.

The project involves laying more than 300 kilometers of subsea cable conduits containing 11 cable lines through territorial waters, with a landing point in Thailand and connections extending to Australia's Christmas Island. The NBTC noted that the project uses a single conduit route housing 11 separate cable lines that can branch to other destinations, with establishing a Thailand landing point requiring regulatory approval.

Subsea cable networks form the backbone of Thailand's internet infrastructure. The country currently operates around 10-12 systems with at least nine active, including SMW3, FLAG, TIS, SMW4, AAG, SJC, APG, AAE1, and ADC (Asia Direct Cable). Projects in development include Google Cloud's TalayLink and SJC2 (Southeast Asia-Japan Cable 2), expected to launch in 2026, plus SEA-H2X. Data from the Thai Internet and Cloud Service Provider Association shows approximately 70% of Thailand's international connectivity still depends on terrestrial links to data and internet hubs in Singapore.

The approved permit is part of Google Cloud's TalayLink project, a new subsea cable route connecting Thailand and Australia designed to strengthen digital connectivity across the Asia-Pacific region. This marks the beginning of Google's previously announced 30 billion baht investment in regional cloud infrastructure in Thailand.

TalayLink is also integrated into Australia Connect, an initiative positioning Australia as a hub linking Pacific island nations and Indian Ocean countries via the Sunda Strait, a major corridor for existing subsea cables. The network will connect to Google's planned cloud region in Thailand, part of a US$1 billion investment announced last year, enabling future data center consolidation and integration with Google's global cloud network.

Google has also announced plans for new connectivity hubs in Western Australia, including Mandurah, and in southern Thailand to support regional demand. Once operational, the network is expected to enhance resilience across Australia, Africa, and Southeast Asia while supporting Thailand's digital economy transition, including AI adoption and broader digital inclusion.