China Mobile-led SEA-H2X submarine cable enters commercial service, linking 5 Asia-Pacific locations

HONG KONG, July 22, 2026 — On 22 July, the Southeast Asia-Hainan-Hong Kong (SEA-H2X) international submarine cable, led and invested in by China Mobile, completed its system acceptance test and launched commercially. As the project's largest investor, China Mobile holds key management responsibilities and continues to play a driving role in its execution.

Key Specifications

• Total length: Approximately 5,746 kilometers
• Fiber pairs: Eight along the trunk
• System design capacity: Exceeding 200 Tbps
• Connected locations: Hainan (China), Hong Kong (China), the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore

Technology and Capabilities

The project employs industry-leading open cable access technology (Open Cable) with spectrum sharing capabilities. It also incorporates advanced core submarine equipment to deliver ultra-high transmission capacity, while enhancing operational security, service configuration agility, and reliability in complex networking environments.

China Mobile's Role and Investment

China Mobile has invested in and constructed four trunk fiber pairs linking Hong Kong (China) and Singapore, as well as branch segments to Hainan (China), the Philippines, and Thailand. This secures over 100 Tbps of dedicated bandwidth upon commissioning.

As the operator of the SEA-H2X Network Operations Center (NOC), China Mobile provides professional services including:

• Real-time monitoring
• Fault diagnosis
• Performance optimization

These services ensure the safe and stable operation of the submarine cable system and improve user network experience.

Strategic Impact

In response to the rapidly growing demand for computing power interconnection in the AI era, SEA-H2X will further improve China Mobile's communication infrastructure layout in Greater China and the Asia-Pacific region. The cable will help build a 30-millisecond-level low-latency computing power circle between China and Southeast Asia, providing low-latency, end-to-end security, and cost-effective computing power scheduling capabilities.

China Mobile will integrate SEA-H2X with its existing Asia-Pacific submarine cable systems—such as APG, SJC, and SJC2—as well as intercontinental cables including SEA-ME-WE 5, PEACE, and the IAX system. Combined with its global terrestrial network, Points of Presence (PoPs), data centers, and intelligent computing resources, this establishes a cross-continental transmission corridor spanning Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. This enhances the resilience of the global communication network and provides a more reliable one-stop global connectivity service.

Broader Significance

The commercial launch of the SEA-H2X cable marks a significant milestone in China Mobile's efforts to advance high-quality digital infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative. By forging closer links between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Hainan Free Trade Port, and core Southeast Asian markets, the project provides a robust network foundation to support the overseas expansion of Chinese enterprises and drive digital development across the region.

Looking ahead, China Mobile will leverage the deployment of SEA-H2X to deepen international digital cooperation, injecting new momentum into the growth of regional and global digital economies.

This is a company press release that is not part of editorial content. No journalist of The Hindu was involved in the publication of this release.

Published - July 22, 2026 08:30 pm IST