Tokyo, Japan – The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Japan’s IPS Inc., and InfiniVAN Inc. officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines here, marking another significant milestone in advancing the Philippines’ digital infrastructure.
The signing ceremony was attended by key leaders, including Engr. Joshua M. Bingcang, President and CEO of BCDA; Hedda Y. Rulona, Senior Vice President of BCDA Investment and Financial Management Group; Koji Miyashita, CEO and President of IPS Inc.; Shigeki Nakahara, President of InfiniVAN Inc.; and Alejandro A. Aquino, IPS Group Advisor for Strategic Partnerships and Business Development.
The agreement underscores the shared commitment of the three parties to expand digital network infrastructure coverage and resiliency, and accelerate digital transformation across the country.
A strategic collaboration for digital advancement
The MOU outlines cooperation in maximizing the use of BCDA’s existing facilities, particularly the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure (LBI), which consists of two strategically situated submarine cable landing stations (CLS) in San Fernando, La Union and Baler, Aurora, as well as a 240-kilometer fiber optic conduit network connecting the two CLSs.
IPS, with its investments in international submarine cable projects, and InfiniVAN, with its extensive nationwide fiber optic network, will jointly support this initiative to deliver secure, reliable, and future-ready connectivity.
The Luzon Bypass Infrastructure is a forward-looking investment undertaken by the Philippine government in 2018 under a Three-Party Framework Agreement among the BCDA, the DICT, and META (formerly Facebook) in order to mitigate pervasive submarine cable risks along the Luzon Strait.
Under the agreement, META is to provide the Philippine government two terrabytes per second (Tbps) of international bandwidth between the Philippines and the United States in support of the full development of a secure and reliable government network all over the country.
Commitment to national growth and security
InfiniVAN, recognized as one of the fastest-growing telecom providers in the country, will leverage its nationwide digital infrastructure—including submarine, aerial, and terrestrial fiber—to support this collaboration.
By aligning with IPS’s international capacity and BCDA’s strategic infrastructure, the project will not only expand digital inclusion but also strengthen national security through resilient network design.
“This partnership is more than just building networks—it’s about creating lasting socio-economic impact for Filipinos by ensuring faster, safer, and more reliable connectivity,” said Shigeki Nakahara, President of InfiniVAN Inc.
The initiative is expected to accelerate the rollout of the National Broadband Plan, support government digital services, and open opportunities for economic growth in business centers and economic zones across the country.
A game changer for the Philippines
The combined efforts of BCDA, IPS, and InfiniVAN represent a forward-looking step toward establishing the Philippines as a hub for regional connectivity.
With international subsea integration, expanded broadband access, and shared infrastructure, the initiative will strengthen the Philippines’ digital backbone for the next decade and beyond.