South Korea’s LS Cable & System and its submarine subsidiary have announced their participation in a major undersea telecommunications project backed by global tech giants, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
The groundbreaking initiative, known as the Japan-Korea Submarine Cable (JAKO) project, is being spearheaded by a powerful consortium that includes Microsoft, AWS, South Korea’s Dreamline Co., and Japan’s ARTERIA Networks Corp.
The project aims to build an advanced 260-kilometer submarine communications network linking Busan, South Korea, and Fukuoka, Japan, with completion targeted for 2027.
Once operational, this next-generation infrastructure is expected to significantly enhance data transmission capabilities between the two nations, supporting the region’s booming demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services.
In a statement, LS Cable confirmed it had won a turnkey contract to manage the project, overseeing all aspects from engineering to procurement and construction (EPC). This marks a historic milestone as it is the first time a South Korean company will lead an international submarine communications project in such a comprehensive role.
“The JAKO project will help Microsoft and AWS better handle surging data traffic driven by AI and cloud expansion in Northeast Asia,” an LS Cable spokesperson said.
LS Cable & System and LS Marine Solutions emphasized their commitment to growing their footprint in the global submarine cable market, a sector critical to the digital economy.
This announcement comes as LS Cable accelerates its international ambitions. In April 2025, construction began on its U.S. manufacturing facility for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea cables in Virginia. The company also recently completed Korea’s first land-to-Jeju HVDC transmission system, spanning approximately 90 kilometers, marking Korea’s largest subsea cable project since LS Cable’s Jeju 2 initiative in 2009.
