Globe's ₱-Backed Subsea Cable Wires BASULTA for Digital Property Boom
Summary
- Globe Telecom advancing a 48-core, 175-km submarine cable linking Zamboanga City to Isabela City, Basilan and extending to Sulu (BASULTA)
- Marine survey underway in 2026 with full construction targeted by mid-2027; Isabela City to become a high-capacity internet hub
- Digital backbone unlocks fiber-grade connectivity across long-underserved southern Mindanao, a key precursor to commercial and residential demand
- Positions Zamboanga Peninsula and island provinces for BPO, logistics, and tourism-linked real estate appreciation
News Content
Globe Telecom is moving forward on its Mindanao Submarine Cable Project, a 48-core, 175-kilometer subsea network connecting Zamboanga City to Isabela City in Basilan and onward to Sulu. The marine survey is scheduled through 2026, with full construction expected by mid-2027. The build covers cable installation, landing stations, inland and fronthaul infrastructure, and core and access nodes supporting both broadband and mobile services. Once live, Isabela City will serve as a resilient, high-capacity internet gateway for the BASULTA corridor, complementing the government's National Broadband Plan push to connect geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. The investment marks one of the most significant digital-infrastructure commitments to date for the Zamboanga Peninsula and the surrounding island provinces, regions historically constrained by limited connectivity.
Real Estate Outlook
Reliable, fiber-grade connectivity is a leading indicator of property value, enabling BPO offices, logistics hubs, and tourism enterprises. Investors should watch Isabela City landing-station catchments and Zamboanga City's commercial districts, where serviced offices, mixed-use, and residential demand typically firm up ahead of and during cable activation through 2027.
References
- [1] GMA News Online — “Globe's submarine cable project in Mindanao to start in 2026” · 2026 (early-year)
- [2] The Manila Times — “Globe plans Mindanao submarine cable project” · 2025-12-13
- [3] The Manila Times — “Globe expands network, strengthen digital access in Mindanao areas” · 2025-12-15
- [4] Subsea Cables — “Globe Strengthens Southern Philippines Connectivity with Mindanao Submarine Cable Project” · 2026