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MANILA, Philippines — The US plans to connect Thailand to the US through a submarine cable network that includes Manila, avoiding security risk areas like the South China Sea.

In a statement, the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) said it was funding a feasibility study for the proposed Thailand-US Submarine Cable System (THUS), which could stretch up to 18,500 kilometers (11,500 miles).

While primarily aimed at connecting Thailand to the United States, USTDA said the cable could also pass through up to five other Southeast Asian countries: the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

“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,” USTDA Deputy Director Thomas Hardy said in a statement. 

THUS aims to replace Thailand’s aging subsea cable connection to the United States and enhance connectivity across a Southeast Asian market of more than 600 million people.

The proposed system avoids the South China Sea and other routes that have security risks, as Washington pushes for the deployment of digital infrastructure based on “trusted technology standards.”

USTDA’s study will assess the commercial, technical, financial and regulatory viability of THUS, including its route design, economic prospects and commercialization plan.

Thailand’s state-owned National Telecom Public Co. Ltd. has tapped Florida-based APTelecom LLC to undertake the study.

The proposed cable would operate under an open-access model, USTDA said. 

“By aligning THUS’s technical specifications with U.S. engineering standards, the study will generate opportunities for U.S. companies to export trusted hardware, software, and installation services for the project,” Hardy added. 

Over the past years, the Philippines had already been beefing up its submarine cable infrastructure.

Three of the country’s top telcos—PLDT Inc., Globe Telecom Inc. and Converge ICT Solutions Inc.—are preparing to launch a $500-million domestic submarine cable network spanning Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.