Meta Unveils “Candle” Submarine Cable: The Largest 570 Tbps Data Network for Asia-Pacific AI

Meta has unveiled Candle, a submarine cable system intended to interconnect Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, forming the largest data transmission network in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Meta’s official plan. The project spans approximately 8,000 kilometres and is slated for completion by 2028, with a total capacity of 570 Tbps delivered via state-of-the-art 24-pair fibre optic technology, serving over 580 million internet users across the region.

Meta says the infrastructure will bolster regional network resilience and cross-border data transfer efficiency while supporting AI and other high-performance digital applications. Alongside Candle, Meta announced the Apricot submarine cable, which has officially entered operation and currently connects Taiwan, Japan, and Guam, with future extensions planned to reach the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore, ultimately spanning 12,000 kilometres.

Meta also provided updates on its other trans-Pacific cables, including Bifrost and Echo, and emphasised the region’s reliance on stable international connectivity for AI computation and cloud services. The announcement comes as part of Meta’s broader push to expand high-speed connectivity across Asia-Pacific, with further projects such as Waterworth and 2Africa in its pipeline.