The Intra-Asia Marine Cable (I-AM Cable) spans 8,100 kilometers, connecting Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, with additional connectivity to Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan.

Owner and Suppliers

The I-AM Cable System is developed by Intra-Asia Marine Networks Co., Ltd. (I-AM NW), a joint venture of NTT DATA, Sumitomo Corporation, and JA Mitsui Leasing, and a special purpose vehicle (SPV) established in Japan to build and operate the I-AM Cable System.

In addition to the establishment of the joint venture, I-AN NW, NTT has established joint ventures and SPVs for other subsea cable projects, for example, Orient Link Pte. Ltd. (OLL) for the MIST cable system, Seren Juno Network Co., Ltd. (“Seren Juno”) for the JUNO cable system.

I-AN NW has selected Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) and OMS Group to build the system. ASN supplies the submarine cable system and associated equipment, and OMS Group leads the marine installation, drawing on its experience in complex subsea deployments across the Asia-Pacific region.

Technical Specifications & Capacity

The I-AM Cable System will incorporate advanced technologies to offer high capacity and flexibility.

• Orient Link Pte. Ltd. (OLL)Key Technologies: Utilizes Space Division Multiplexing (SDM) and Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) functionality.

• Design Capacity: Approximately 320 terabits per second (Tbps) on 16 fiber pairs, i.e., 20 Tbps per fiber pair.

• Total Length: Approximately 8,100 kilometers.

• Total Project Cost: Approximately $1 billion.

• Planned Service Start: Early fiscal year 2029.

Cable Route & Landing Points

The I-AM Cable cable aims to create a new communication ecosystem with multiple landing points for resilience.

• Core Connection: Japan ⇄ Malaysia ⇄ Singapore.

• Additional Connectivity: South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

• Japanese Landing Stations: NTT's cable landing stations in Shima, Minamiboso and Fukuoka. Having three diverse landing points in Japan is designed to provide robust protection against regional natural disasters. Furthermore, Fukuoka is planned as an international telecommunications hub in western Japan, in coordination with newly developed data center clusters.

• South China Sea route: as shown in the I-AM Cable map released by NTT, the cable runs into the South China Sea, but it tries to avoid the 9-dash line claimed by China and exclude any landing in China.

Strategic Importance & Goals

The project addresses the growing demands of the digital and AI economy.

• Infrastructure Resilience: Strengthens Asia's communication infrastructure by securing diverse and reliable data routes.

• Japan as a Data Hub: Reinforces Japan's role as a crucial data hub connecting the Asia-Pacific region with the rest of the world.

• Target Clients: The high-quality, reliable communication services are intended for major global technology companies and telecom operators.