BALER, Aurora—The country’s local and international internet connectivity is expected to increase its speed further with an additional submarine cable that will connect the country to the rest of the world and will serve as another backbone network infrastructure for the country.
InfiniVAN Inc., a leading Japanese-Filipino telecommunications provider ground breaks on Wednesday, its very own Baler Cable Landing Station (CLS) in Suklayin-Buhangin Road in this town. The worth $15 million station targeted to be completed in August 2026 will house and operate InfinVAN’s own submarine cable system.
Alberto Espedido, chief, technology officer of InfiniVAN said Baler’s CLS, is a state-of-the-art facility which will be the key gateway of the connectivity of the nation to the global regional highway.
Baler CLS will be an addition to the existing cable landing station corridors in the country—La union, Davao and Bicol and it will be an open-access to telecommunication providers which provide internet service to service providers, he said.
According to Aejandro Aquino, Advisor, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development of InfiniVAN, because of the ongoing geopolitical developments west of the Philippnes, their company expects that all new submarine cable projects that wil be based in the Pacific, Japan and in the US will emanate in the Baler CLS. “That’s why we decided to station our cable in this area to be able to accommodate three to four submarine cable systems, one in 2028 and one will be as early as next year,” he said in a press conference.
Koji Miyashita, Chairman of InfiniVAN said that true to the name of their company, which is derived from the word “infinity and the acronym VAN for Value Added Network, the Baler fiber hub will bring bright future to the Philippines as the country rises to become the leader in the digital age.
He said the facility is more than infrastructure as it embodies key strengths that will shape Philippine digital landscape being an open gateway for global connectivity providing an open access landing station for the rest of the world.
“Welcoming more carriers and creating such environment, it offers neutral entry point for international submarine cables, healthy competition, expand choices and establish Philippines as the most dynamic gateway to Asia Pacific placing us in the world digital page,’ he said.
“The strategic location of Baler in Luzon in the eastern shores offers a secured and reliable alternative by passing sensitive routes to ensure more resilient and efficient connection to Japan, the US and Pacific partners. The Baler cable station will also strengthen the national backbone of the country creating disaster resilient network that brings closer and beyond Metro Manila, reaching Visayas and Mindanao and every corner of the country as a vibrant platform for the next generation,” Miyashita added.
The InfiniVAN head also assures local officials of their company’s commitment to construct the station with utmost care for Baler’s wonderful nature, environment and beauty to be preserved.
Imelda Walcien, Director of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Regulation Branch welcomes the InfiniVAN CLS as the first in the eastern part of the country as most of the cable network are located in the western area.
“We have one in Cagayan and Davao which are facing west. Baler is the first one in the eastern side,” she said.
Walcien told NEWSCORE Bulacan that Baler CLS differs from the other existing cable landing stations like the PLDT, Globe and others because it is the only first to operate with an open access to all other telecommunication companies which wanted to connect for a much speed up global and local internet connectivity.
