Queensland’s first direct telecoms connection for direct international data and to global markets is almost ready and should be operational by the middle of 2020.
Once the cable is up (or should that be down?) and running, Sunshine Coast will be the fastest connection point from East Australia to Asia, which should attract a lot of inward investment.
Lots of interest
This project will help to get local businesses online and interacting with new markets, as well as improving the telecoms environment of East Oz. The cable will also help to future-proof the Sunshine Coast’s telecoms and smart city capabilities by making sure there’s always easy access to the big data networks.
More about the submarine project
The Sunshine Coast Council approved the laying of this new international cable after it agreed a contract with RTI Connectivity Pty Ltd to deliver the project.
The 550km undersea fibreoptic cable will connect the Sunshine Coast to the 7,000km Japan-Guam-Australia South (JGA-S) cable. This new 550km section will connect to the cable landing station situated by Maroochydore City Centre.
This landing station houses the connection point for the cable, as well as landside comms networks. In total, the station can handle four submarine cables and house 24 data cabinets.
A welcome boost for jobs and investment
It’s hoped that the new cable project will bring in more than 860 new jobs and around $930 million in new investment to Queensland.
For the first time, QLD businesses will be able to bypass Sydney and reach international contacts directly. The increased speed and diversity of the telecoms will mean new opportunities for businesses already here, as well as new territories for data-heavy companies like Google and Microsoft to look at.
Putting Sunshine Coast on the map
Having a significantly upgraded telecoms system opens Sunshine Coast up to inward investment from both industry and commerce. Companies that use and deal with large amounts of data will see the area as a potential new location, hopefully opening regional HQs in QLD and providing new jobs.
At grass roots level, too, the project will lead to cheaper and faster broadband access to homes, schools and small businesses, making Sunshine Coast a smarter, well-connected and creative place to be.
