What's Happening?
Subco has announced the activation of the SMAP subsea cable, a 5,000km submarine cable system connecting Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. This cable is designed to carry over 400 Tbit/s of IT capacity, marking the largest transcontinental capacity upgrade
in Australia in nearly 25 years. The SMAP cable, described as Australia's first hypercable, provides route diversity and resilience across the Sydney-Perth corridor, including the first submarine cable to land in both Melbourne and Adelaide. Foundational customers such as 5GN, Swoop, and Aussie Broadband have already signed on, securing capacity and performance for the next decade. The cable's activation is part of Subco's broader expansion plans, which include extending the cable into Tasmania and establishing new fiber connections between Tasmania and mainland Australia.
Why It's Important?
The activation of the SMAP subsea cable is a significant development for Australia's digital economy, enhancing the country's role as a connectivity hub for the Indo-Pacific region. By providing increased capacity and redundancy, the cable supports the growing demand for bandwidth and ensures more reliable internet services. This infrastructure upgrade is crucial for businesses and consumers alike, as it facilitates faster data transfer and improved network resilience. The involvement of foundational customers like Cloudflare and Telair highlights the industry's confidence in the cable's ability to meet future demands. Additionally, the expansion into Tasmania and plans for international connections further strengthen Australia's digital infrastructure, positioning the country for continued growth in the global digital landscape.
What's Next?
Subco's expansion plans include the Bernacchi-1 project, which will extend the SMAP cable into Tasmania, providing over 60 Tbit/s of additional capacity. This extension is expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2027. Furthermore, Subco is developing the APX East hypercable, which will connect Australia directly to the US mainland, with extensions to Hawaii and Fiji. This project is anticipated to be completed by 2029, enhancing Australia's international connectivity. These developments are likely to attract more businesses to invest in Australia's digital infrastructure, further boosting the country's economic growth and technological advancement.
