The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), Thailand's telecom regulator, has approved an application by Google Cloud to exercise rights under Section 39 of the 2001 Telecommunications Business Act for a new subsea cable project. The approval was endorsed at the recent NBTC Meeting following a resolution by its subcommittee on rights-of-way, based on a request submitted by International Gateway Company (IGC).

The TalayLink project is a collaboration between IGC and Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company. The project involves laying more than 300 kilometers of subsea cable conduits comprising 11 cable lines through Thailand's territorial waters, with a landing point in Thailand and a connection to Australia's Christmas Island. An NBTC source noted that the project uses a single conduit route that houses 11 cable lines, which can branch to other destinations, thereby enhancing regional connectivity.

As part of the broader Australia Connect initiative, this subsea cable route connects Thailand and Australia, strengthening Thailand's position as a digital connectivity hub in the Asia Pacific. Australia serves as a central hub connecting South Pacific islands and countries across the Indian Ocean through key maritime routes, including the Sunda Strait, one of the most active subsea cable corridors currently in use. Subsea cable networks form the backbone of Thailand's internet infrastructure, which currently consists of around 10 to 12 systems, with at least nine already in operation, and three systems, including TalayLink, expected to launch in 2026.

This project also marks the kickoff of a regional cloud infrastructure investment in Thailand valued at more than THB30 billion, or approximately US$1 billion, which Google announced in 2025 as part of its Southeast Asia expansion. The subsea cable will connect to a future Cloud Region in Thailand, enabling data localization and seamless integration with Google's global cloud network. Google has also announced plans for new connectivity hubs in Western Australia, in Mandurah, and in southern Thailand to support regional connectivity. 

Once completed, the network will enhance resilience across Australia, Africa, and Southeast Asia, while supporting economic transformation through AI technologies and advancing Thailand's digital inclusion.