Google drives new links
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Australia is laying digital pipelines to become the internet's new Indo-Pacific hub.
The nation is set to enhance its digital connectivity with the launch of the ‘Australia Connect’ initiative, a collaborative project between Google Cloud, NEXTDC, Vocus, SUBCO, and various government partners.
The plan will see the construction of two subsea cable systems connecting Australian mainland capital cities with Christmas Island, Singapore, and the United States.
The initiative aims to bolster Australia's strategic position as a digital gateway between the Asia-Pacific region and North America.
The first cable system, named Bosun, will link Darwin to Christmas Island, creating a pathway for data to travel to Singapore and beyond.
Google Cloud says the system will be integrated with existing infrastructure, including its collaboration with Vocus on terrestrial fibre routes between Darwin and the Sunshine Coast.
The Bosun system will be connected to the Tabua subsea cable, which spans from the United States to Australia and Fiji.
A second cable will serve as an interlink between Melbourne, Perth, and Christmas Island.
This system connects to the Honomoana cable, a separate initiative by Google Cloud and Vocus under the Pacific Connect project.
Both cables will facilitate high-capacity data transmission, supporting Australia's growing demand for digital services driven by cloud computing and artificial intelligence technologies.
“Australia Connect will bolster our nation's strategic position as a vital gateway between Asia and the United States by connecting key nodes located in Australia’s East, West, and North to global digital markets,” said Vocus interirm CEO Jarrod Nink.
Vocus is set to provide an initial capacity of 20 to 30 terabytes per second per fibre pair, enhancing reliability and diversity across both terrestrial and subsea networks.
NEXTDC, a key infrastructure partner, said the project will secure Australia’s digital future. “This initiative strengthens the Sunshine Coast’s position as a hub for investment and further fortifies Australia’s digital economy,” CEO Craig Scroggie said.
NEXTDC’s data centres, including a critical facility on the Sunshine Coast, will play a central role in supporting the initiative’s operations.
The initiative positions Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane as critical nodes in the global internet infrastructure. It also establishes new subsea pathways that enhance the diversity, capacity, and resilience of Australia’s digital connectivity.
According to research by Analysys Mason, Google’s investments in submarine cable systems are expected to contribute over US$64 billion to Australia’s GDP by 2026, creating approximately 68,000 jobs in the digital economy.
