Southern Cross inks contract for 400-terabit subsea cable linking Australia and New Zealand

Network backbone company Southern Cross has signed a supply contract with Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) and OMS Group to build the SX Tasman Express subsea cable system connecting Sydney to Auckland.

The cable system will deliver 400 terabits of additional capacity across 16 fibre pairs using ASN's state-of-the-art subsea technology.

Open Cable System architecture will be used to ensure compatibility with future generations of submarine line terminals and provides optimised latency for next-generation digital applications.

ASN's branching unit technology meanwhile enables an alternate Australian landing option apart from Sydney.

Malaysia's OMS Group will lead the marine installation using its latest fleet of vessels in partnership with ASN, and the project targets completion in 2028.

"Tasman Express marks a significant step in enhancing digital infrastructure between Australia and New Zealand," Laurie Miller, chief executive of Southern Cross Cables Limited, said.

"With ASN and OMS's support, this system delivers ultra-high capacity, low-latency fibre connectivity, meeting the evolving demands of AI-driven cloud regions in Sydney and Auckland," Miller added.

Tasman Express cable system is being built to capitalise on growing capacity demands between Australia and New Zealand, as cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications drive increased data traffic between the two countries.

The partnership combines ASN's advanced submarine cable technology with OMS Group's regional marine expertise to deliver enhanced capacity and resilience across the Tasman Sea.

"ASN is delighted to be working again with Southern Cross team and our strategic partner OMS Group," Paul Gabla, vice president of sales and marketing at ASN, said.

"Combining ASN's latest subsea technology with OMS's regional marine expertise, this project will be a transformational infrastructure asset significantly enhancing capacity and resilience across the Tasman Sea," Gabla added.

By deploying the SX-TX system, we are not only reinforcing vital links between Australia and New Zealand but also strengthening the backbone of regional connectivity," Ronnie Lim, group chief executive of OMS Group said.

Financial details of the Tasman Express build were not provided.