Taiwan Penghu Kinmen Matsu No.3 (TPKM3)

Overview

Taiwan Penghu Kinmen Matsu No.3 (TPKM3) is a domestic submarine cable system connecting multiple landing points within Taiwan. Spanning 510 km, the cable serves intra-Taiwan connectivity, linking the main island with outlying island territories including Beigan and Budai. The system is entirely domestic in scope, operating within Taiwanese waters.

Route and Landings

All three landing points on the TPKM3 system are located within Taiwan. The cable lands at Beigan, Budai, and Dawu, each situated in Taiwan. These landings connect the main island of Taiwan with its outlying island territories, supporting local communications across the grouping of islands from which the cable takes its name — Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.

Ownership and Operators

TPKM3 is owned and operated solely by Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan's principal telecommunications carrier. As the sole owner, Chunghwa Telecom holds full responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the system.

Status and Timeline

TPKM3 entered service in 2013 and has been operational for approximately 13 years. The cable currently remains in service, providing domestic connectivity across its landing points in Taiwan.

Regional Context

Taiwan is served by 14 submarine cables landing across 8 landing points, the majority of which are intercontinental systems connecting the island to broader Asia-Pacific and trans-Pacific networks. Regional peers such as EAC-C2C, APCN-2, Trans-Pacific Express (TPE), and New Cross Pacific (NCP) are considerably longer international systems, ranging from roughly 13,600 km to over 36,500 km. TPKM3, at 510 km, is shorter than all other cables serving Taiwan, reflecting its distinct role as a domestic rather than international system. Where regional peers are oriented toward long-haul international traffic, TPKM3 addresses connectivity between Taiwan's main island and its outlying territories.

Strategic Role

By connecting Beigan, Budai, and Dawu, TPKM3 provides direct submarine cable links between Taiwan's main island and the island groups referenced in its name. This domestic configuration distinguishes it from the predominantly international cable infrastructure landing in Taiwan, serving a specific geographic need for reliable connectivity to island communities that would otherwise depend on alternative long-distance routing. Owned entirely by Chunghwa Telecom, the cable represents a focused domestic infrastructure investment within the broader Taiwanese submarine cable landscape.