Meta Unveils 'Candle': The Massive 570 Tbps Subsea Cable Boosting Indonesia's Digital Future

The landscape of digital connectivity in the Asia Pacific region is about to witness a massive leap forward. Meta has officially introduced its latest subsea cable project named 'Candle,' a monumental infrastructure development designed to be the largest capacity cable in the region. This ambitious project aims to bridge the digital gap by connecting Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Singapore through a high-speed underwater highway.

Breaking Capacity Records with Candle

Set to become operational by 2028, the Candle subsea cable is not just another addition to the ocean floor. It is a technological marvel spanning approximately 8,000 kilometers. What truly sets it apart is its staggering design capacity of up to 570 Terabits per second (Tbps). To put this into perspective, this level of bandwidth is designed to handle the massive data demands of tomorrow, ensuring that both businesses and hundreds of millions of individuals across Southeast Asia can stay connected without bottlenecks.

To achieve such unprecedented speeds, Meta is deploying the latest in fiber optic innovation. The Candle project will utilize newly developed 24-pair fiber cable technology. Meta has noted that the sheer scale of bandwidth produced by Candle will be comparable to the renowned Anjana project, signaling a new era of data transmission efficiency for the Asia Pacific corridor.

Strengthening the Indonesian Digital Economy

For Indonesia, this project is more than just hardware; it is a catalyst for economic growth. Meta's commitment to this project stems from a desire to bolster digital connectivity for the archipelago. By providing a reliable and lightning-fast connection, Meta aims to support Indonesia's rapidly growing digital economy. This infrastructure is essential for the seamless delivery of modern services, including advanced AI technologies and the next generation of Meta’s social platforms.

The Global Web: Updates on Bifrost and Apricot

While Candle is the headline act, Meta is also making significant strides with its existing underwater network. The company recently announced the completion of the Bifrost cable. This particular system connects Indonesia directly to Singapore, the Philippines, and the United States. Bifrost is unique because it follows a different path from traditional Transpacific digital routes, adding much-needed redundancy with a capacity of over 260 Tbps. Furthermore, an expansion of this system toward Mexico is expected to be finalized by 2026.

Parallel to these developments, Meta is also upgrading the Apricot cable project. This system, which currently links Japan, Taiwan, and Guam, is being expanded into a massive 12,000-kilometer network. With a capacity of 290 Tbps, the Apricot expansion will reach the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore. This expansion is strategically designed to complement the existing Bifrost and Echo networks, creating a resilient and interconnected web of high-speed data across Southeast Asia.

A Vision for a Connected Asia

Meta’s heavy investment in subsea infrastructure highlights a long-term vision for the region. By building a robust network of cables like Candle, Bifrost, and Apricot, the company is ensuring that the digital infrastructure can keep up with the increasing demands of AI and data-heavy services. For people in Indonesia and neighboring countries, this means more reliable internet, lower latency, and the foundation required to participate fully in the global digital future.