Datawave Networks, a Cyprus-based independent subsea infrastructure provider, said it has signed a binding investment and financing agreement with affiliates of Cerberus Capital Management to fund and accelerate development of the Singapore–India–Gulf (SING) Cable System, a next-generation subsea fiber optic network spanning the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Under the agreement, Cerberus is expected to make a significant equity investment, giving it a majority ownership position in Datawave upon the contemplated transactions’ closing. Cerberus will also provide project financing intended to support the construction and deployment of SING, which Datawave said is designed to address growing demand for international bandwidth along one of the world’s most strategically important digital corridors.
Datawave said it has also entered into an agreement with a leading U.S.-based subsea cable systems supplier covering the design, manufacture, and deployment of the system. The project is targeting a Ready for Service date in 2030.
The SING system is planned to land in Muscat, Oman; Kalba, United Arab Emirates; Mumbai and Chennai, India; Kedah, Malaysia; and Singapore. Datawave said the route is intended to create a high-capacity, low-latency link connecting key digital hubs across the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, while supporting route diversity along the east–west corridor.
Once deployed, SING is expected to comprise 16 fiber pairs, each designed to deliver a minimum of 18 terabits per second. Datawave said the design is aimed at providing scalable capacity that can be expanded as regional connectivity requirements increase.
The companies positioned the cable as a platform for resilient connectivity and onward interconnection, including pathways from Oman and the UAE toward Europe and broader connectivity within the Middle East. Datawave said the system is expected to support rising infrastructure needs tied to AI, cloud services, and hyperscale data center growth across India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Gulf markets.
Datawave said its Indian subsidiary secured an International Long Distance license in March 2022 and is expected to act as the landing party for SING in India. The company added that its Singapore subsidiary is expected to serve as the landing party in Singapore, with the remaining landing party arrangements already established.
Cerberus, founded in 1992, said it manages approximately $70 billion in assets across credit, real estate and private equity strategies. The firm said it was attracted to SING’s positioning across high-growth markets and the project’s emphasis on route diversity, noting that anchor customer commitments are already in place.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are truly excited to partner with Cerberus in taking the next step towards bringing the SING cable system into fruition in one of the world’s most dynamic and fastest-growing digital regions. SING is exceptionally well positioned to meet future connectivity demand driven by significant investments in AI and cloud infrastructure. This investment will allow us to move forward decisively and deliver SING as quickly as possible to secure the region’s long-term growth, especially as a number of existing cables are set to retire.”
Mark Wickham, CEO, Datawave
“We are proud to announce this agreement with Datawave. What attracted us to the SING project is its unique positioning connecting centers of substantial current and future growth. SING also delivers critical route diversity along the globally important east–west corridor. With anchor customer commitments already in place, we anticipate strong market adoption. The Datawave team had advanced the project over several years, and we saw a clear opportunity where our strategic and financial capabilities could accelerate SING into reality.”
Gabriel Schulze, Cerberus
