Digital infrastructure and data centre provider NEXTDC will play a strategic role as a key critical infrastructure partner in the Australia Connect initiative launched this week.
The initiative is a collaborative project with Google, NEXTDC, Sunshine Coast City Council and several partners, including state governments. The initiative aims to further the reach, reliability and resilience of digital connectivity in Australia and the Indo-Pacific region via the delivery of new subsea cable systems.
Sophisticated subsea cable technology is deployed across thousands of kilometres of the ocean floor. Importantly, these cable networks are responsible for carrying most of the world’s internet traffic. They provide mission-critical support in meeting Australia’s demand for digital services driven by cloud and AI technologies.
Once operational, the Australia Connect initiative will deliver new and diverse digital pathways to boost the reliability and resilience of the internet within Australia and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
As a result, the initiative will expand and grow direct and secure internet connectivity to Perth, Melbourne, Darwin and Sunshine Coast with direct and secure access to the Asia Pacific region through connectivity with the Tabua and Honomoana Subsea Cable Systems.
“We’re excited to continue our close collaboration with NEXTDC in support of Australia Connect,” said Google Clouds Brian Quigley. “This initiative will help deliver new digital pathways for Australia and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.”
“We are longstanding collaborators of Google, having worked closely together on multiple cable landing facilities,” said NEXTDC CEO Craig Scroggie. “The team are excited to extend our partnership to include the Australia Connect initiative which will deliver stronger, faster and more resilient internet for Australia and the region.”
“This ongoing commitment to invest in the nation’s mission-critical infrastructure enables NEXTDC to provide industry-leading solutions to our customers as they navigate the transformative impacts of AI to accelerate their strategic advantage,” he added.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli highlighted the initiative was an outstanding win for the region and the benefits extended far beyond just improved connectivity and network performance.
“We are excited to partner with NEXTDC and Google to help improve digital resilience across the country and the near Pacific. Australia’s entire digital landscape is now changing, and the Sunshine Coast community will play a significant role in this outcome,” Natoli said. “This project builds on the significant progress being made to establish the Maroochydore City Centre as one of Australia’s fastest growing innovation hubs and an ideal investment destination for both international and Australian-based businesses.”
Google’s submarine cable investment is noted in the research conducted by Analysys Mason (2022) to have significant economic benefit in Australia with over USD64 billion expected to be generated by 2026. This research also asserts that this strategic investment in critical infrastructure will generate more than 68,000 additional jobs for Australia’s digital economy.
