International subsea cable arrives on Sunshine Coast
The new Tabua international submarine cable has landed at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast, marking the first direct subsea cable connection between Australia and the United States that is separate from Sydney.
Delivered by a specialised vessel, the subsea cable was successfully pulled ashore following an offshore operation involving excavators, winches, boats and divers.
Part of Google’s Australia Connect initiative, which is focused on increasing digital connectivity in Australia and the Indo-Pacific, the Tabua cable will connect Queensland through the Pacific and to the United States via high-speed and secure subsea cable infrastructure.
The new connection aims to help businesses, governments and communities across Australia benefit from faster, more reliable digital services.
A digital gateway to the world
The cable landing builds on Sunshine Coast Council’s previous infrastructure investments and is supported by NEXTDC’s SC1 data centre, along with its SC2 data centre, which is currently under construction in the Maroochydore City Centre.
The Tabua cable will also land in Sydney, Fiji, Hawaii and the United States.
NEXTDC CEO Craig Scroggie said the cable reinforced the Sunshine Coast’s position as a vital connectivity gateway.
“Our collaboration with Sunshine Coast Council and Google helps drive NEXTDC’s strategic expansion by enabling continued investment in the critical infrastructure that supports the cable landing stations, which will meet growing demand for resilient connectivity across Australia and the APAC region,” he said.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli celebrated the cable landing at Maroochydore. “The Tabua cable will mean faster, more reliable internet for locals, businesses and the Pacific,” she said.
“I’m delighted that Google is now a partner and actively investing in Queensland and, more particularly, on the Sunshine Coast.”
Natoli said the investments were designed to secure long-term economic growth and digital resilience for the Sunshine Coast, Queensland and Australia.
“This project is expected to unlock new opportunities in tech, data centres and smart city development, further strengthening the region’s reputation as an innovation hub,” she explained.
Investing in Australia’s digital future
Google Global Infrastructure Vice President Bikash Koley said the cable landing was an important part of a nationwide investment to help build Australia’s digital future.
“We appreciate the collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Council and NEXTDC to enable this new international cable landing, substantially increasing the resilience and diversity of Australia’s connectivity across the Pacific,” Koley said.
“Australian network providers like Vocus have invested alongside Google for this Sunshine Coast system and will now have new options for international connectivity that complement traditional routes through Sydney.”
Vocus Chief Executive Officer Andrés Irlando said Vocus was proud to partner with Google on both the Australia Connect and Pacific Connect initiatives and to play a part in establishing critical digital infrastructure for the region.
“The cable will link to our 50,000 km national fibre network through three Australian coastlines, providing more resilient connectivity for Australians and positioning Australia and the Sunshine Coast at the heart of a new global route between the US and Asia,” Irlando said.
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