Vocus, Australia’s specialised fibre and network solutions provider, has activated the first international fibre-optic connection into Darwin, establishing Australia’s North as a new entry point for international data and Darwin as a significant digital centre for the Asia Pacific.
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Natasha Fyles said Darwin’s status as Northern Australia’s most advanced digital economy will be further cemented by the launch of this cable, presenting Territorians and investors with new prospects for advanced manufacturing, data centres, and cloud computing services.
Vocus’ Darwin-Jakarta-Singapore Cable (DJSC) system stretches 7,700 kilometres from Port Hedland to Darwin, to its Perth-based Australia-Singapore Cable – making it the first international submarine cable link into Darwin.
Supported by a $7.9m contribution from the NT Government’s ‘Terabit Territory’ strategy, the project will provide significant direct and indirect advantages for northern Australia by addressing the connectivity needs of local businesses and communities with more reliable communications.
The government said it will also benefit a wide range of stakeholders, from isolated Indigenous communities to Pilbara resource companies, by connecting low-latency connections directly into Asia and allowing locals to interact on a global scale.
In addition, the cable will strengthen the security and resilience of Australia’s international cable network, guaranteeing continuous and dependable communication even in the event of a natural disaster or a breakdown on another line.
This will provide organisations, governments, and people more comfort that their communication needs will be supplied even in difficult situations.
“The new Darwin-Jakarta-Singapore Cable system is fantastic news for Northern Australia. This project will help narrow the digital divide, support more reliable communications into the future, and establish Darwin as a leading connectivity hub in the region,” stated Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland.
Rowland underscored that eliminating Australia’s dependency on a single cable landing point reduces risks and boosts the capacity to stay connected.
Minister Fyles further commented on the recent project, saying “The Darwin-Jakarta-Singapore cable is a massive sign of confidence in the Top End. The exciting part of this is that it will diversify our economy and create long-term skilled jobs.”
Minister for Corporate and Digital Development Ngaree Ah Kit said the Darwin-Jakarta-Singapore Cable will bring 40 terabits per second of internet bandwidth between Australia and Asia, paving the way for additional data centres in Darwin, and putting the region on the map as a significant digital centre.
