Telstra opens Perth-Sydney Aura Network route

Telstra has launched the Perth-Sydney route of its Aura Network, the longest in the high-capacity fibre network, strengthening connectivity between Western Australia, the eastern states and international markets.

The route connects Australia's major cities, data centres, cloud regions, digital gateways, industrial hubs and regional economic centres. Telstra said the network is designed to provide up to 35 times more fibre capacity per path and greater resilience than conventional fibre routes.

The launch is backed by new Oxford Economics research, commissioned by Telstra, which finds Western Australia's digital economy could grow from $16.8 billion in FY25 to approximately $89.1 billion by FY40 under an accelerated digital adoption scenario.

The report identifies high-capacity connectivity as a critical enabler across industries including mining, defence, and professional and technical services.

The research estimates the Aura Network could support approximately $3.7 billion in Western Australian Gross State Product and around 10,500 jobs by FY40 through its committed Perth-Sydney and Perth-Adelaide routes. If a potential Darwin-Perth route proceeds, those figures could rise to approximately $6.4 billion in GSP and around 18,500 jobs.

The Perth-Sydney route forms part of Telstra's broader $1.8 billion investment in Australia's digital infrastructure, which also includes network expansion in the Pilbara.

The Aura Network currently spans 9,000km of a planned 14,000km, with active routes across Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. Microsoft and Google have already secured capacity on the network, according to Telstra.

Built with two separate fibre pathways - one for express traffic and one with on and off ramps for regional connectivity - the network lets customers purchase dedicated capacity, scale as needed, or take a fully managed service.

"Western Australia has been at the forefront of transforming industries through technology, from world-leading remote operations centres to increasingly automated mining and industrial operations," said Steven Worrall, chief executive of Telstra Digital Infrastructure. "

"Now, with access to the Aura Network, these organisations can build on that momentum, improving connectivity with customers and partners across Australia, unlocking more growth, innovation and investment in WA."

Worrall said Australia's economic growth will increasingly depend on digital infrastructure.

"Demand for data capacity is accelerating, and our role is to ensure the infrastructure is in place ahead of that demand," he said.

Patrick Gorman, assistant minister to the prime minister and member for Perth, described the route as a major investment for Australia.

"Connectivity is not a privilege, it is a necessity," Gorman said.

"More connections mean bigger opportunities for WA businesses, workers and families."