KUCHING: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg received a courtesy call from Secretary of the Philippines Department of Energy Sharon S Garin following the opening ceremony of the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak 2026 (IDECS 2026) at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Monday.

The meeting discussed developments in digital infrastructure and potential cooperation involving an international fibre-optic cable connection linking Hong Kong and Singapore, with a branch to Kuching.

Also present were Sarawak Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, Sarawak Deputy Minister for Utility (Sarawak Energy and PETROS) Datuk Ibrahim Baki, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani and Converge Chief Executive Officer Dennis Anthony.

When met by reporters, Dennis said his company has developed an international cable spanning more than 3,000 kilometres from Hong Kong to Singapore, with branches to the Philippines and Thailand, as well as a branching unit in Kuching.

According to him, the initiative was initiated by SDEC to develop a high-capacity gateway to Singapore, which serves as a hub connecting Sarawak to global networks.

He said an agreement is ready to be signed for investment in one fibre pair connecting Hong Kong and Singapore, with a branch to Kuching.

“So, this is the gateway that allows you to gain access.

“This was initiated by SDEC, and we already have an agreement ready to be signed where they will invest in one fibre pair,” he said.

He added that the international fibre-optic cable connection will support growing digital connectivity needs arising from the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the expansion of data centres globally.

He said the development of such infrastructure requires computing capacity as well as high-capacity digital connectivity. -UKASnews