SK Broadband signed a contract for the international submarine cable construction consortium ‘E2A’ connecting 4 countries including the United States, Japan, and Taiwan on Mar. 21. Han Min-yong, Head of AI DC Division (far left) and Jo Jeong-min, Head of AI DC Planning Headquarters (second from left) are posing for a commemorative photo after the contract signing. /Courtesy of SK Broadband

SK Broadband announced on the 24th that it signed a contract for the E2A (East Asia To North America) international submarine cable construction consortium on the 21st in Seoul.

In this consortium, SK Broadband participates exclusively in South Korea, along with Japan's SoftBank and Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom. This submarine cable, which is 12,500 kilometers long, consolidates major digital hubs connecting Asia and the United States, linking Busan, Chiba Prefecture, Touwu District, and Moro Bay.

The E2A submarine cable offers a data processing capacity of 16 terabits per second, allowing 660,000 people to watch UHD videos simultaneously or download 500 full HD movies in just one second. This submarine cable is expected to be completed in the second half of 2028 and play a crucial role in handling the surging demand for international internet traffic.

SK Broadband plans to enhance its global business competitiveness through this project, strengthening international dedicated lines and data centers, while laying the groundwork to leap to an Asian network hub.

Ha Min-yong, head of the AI Data Center Division at SK Broadband, noted that "the E2A submarine cable will enhance service stability and scalability tailored to the AI era."