Strategic partnership aims to enhance Thailand-Singapore connectivity

Details: Vaughan O'Grady; Category: Optical & Fixed Networks; 10 September 2026; 123 views

Thailand-based holding company Gulf Development and Singaporean telecommunications conglomerate Singtel Group have announced a strategic partnership to develop new submarine cable connectivity between Thailand and Singapore.

Gulf Development Public Company Limited is a holding company based in Bangkok. It owns businesses that operate in electricity generation, telecommunications and infrastructure development.

The companies say this partnership brings together Gulf's infrastructure development expertise and growing digital business portfolio with Singtel's leadership in submarine cable infrastructure and services.

Both companies plan to develop and invest in subsea cable assets to support the increasing demand for cloud, AI, data centre and digital services across the region, reflecting what they describe as a shared commitment to long-term collaboration and value creation.

Mr Sarath Ratanavadi, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Development, explains: "This partnership with Singtel represents an important milestone in Gulf's digital infrastructure strategy. Together, we are creating a platform that strengthens submarine cable connectivity between Thailand and Singapore while supporting Thailand's ambition to become a leading digital and AI economy in Southeast Asia."

As the first initiative under this partnership, the partners say they will participate in the Vietnam-Thailand-Singapore (VTS) Cable System, creating a new subsea cable link that strengthens Thailand's connectivity to Singapore. Singtel Singapore and Thai associate AIS, the leading telecommunications operators in Singapore and Thailand respectively, intend to draw on their market expertise, connectivity capabilities and customer reach to support the development and commercialisation of the system.

The VTS Cable System is expected to be operational by 2030, with capital requirements spread out over multiple years. Gulf and Singtel say they could also consider investing in terrestrial cable systems and other subsea cable systems in the future.