A new subsea cable system linking Thailand to the US is in the works.

The US Trade and Development Agency this week announced funding for a feasibility study to develop a trusted trans-Pacific submarine cable system that connects Thailand, through neighboring countries, to the United States.

The study will help Thailand’s state-owned telco, National Telecom (NT), assess the viability of the Thailand-US Submarine Cable System (THUS).

The 11,500-mile (18,507km) THUS project is designed to replace Thailand’s aging subsea cable connection to the US. The USTDA said the cable could connect Thailand to the US through up to five other Southeast Asian countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam – while avoiding the South China Sea and “other routes that carry security risks.”

“This activity will help ensure that the critical infrastructure connecting Thailand to the United States is built using trusted technology, protecting sensitive data from exploitation while advancing Thailand’s ambitions to become a regional digital hub,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s deputy director. “By supporting the deployment of secure subsea cable systems, we are helping safeguard networks while opening new opportunities for U.S. companies to compete in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets.”

NT has selected Florida-based APTelecom LLC to conduct the study. Full details of potential landing points and routes haven’t been shared.

“THUS is a strategic investment in Thailand’s digital future. A modern, trusted, open-access submarine cable system connecting Thailand directly with the United States will strengthen the resilience and diversity of our international networks, support the growth of Thailand’s data center, cloud, and AI sectors, and expand affordable connectivity for a regional market of more than 600 million people,” said Colonel Sanpachai Huvanandana, president of National Telecom Public Company Limited. “USTDA’s support comes at a pivotal moment. By funding the upfront feasibility work, this grant accelerates THUS toward bankability and opens the door to collaboration with leading American technology providers, whose innovation and engineering expertise we look forward to bringing into the project.”

The Asia-America Gateway (AAG) system, led by a consortium including AT&T, NT, Globe, and others, dates back to 2009. It is the only subsea system linking Thailand to the US.