The project is set to finalise its branch landings in Fiji and final splice in early January, and the cable is expected to be ready for service in Q2, 2022.
Announced in 2019, the SX NEXT cable will expand the capacity of Australia’s global connectivity, delivering an additional 72Tbps. Connecting Australia, New Zealand and the US via pacific islands Fiji, Tokelau and Kiribati, SX NEXT will deliver high-speed connectivity and low latency between countries.
The cable is estimated to span approximately 15,857 kilometres along the sea floor between the aforementioned nations.
Southern Cross CEO, Mr Laurie Miller, said the SX NEXT cable will deliver significant benefits once it is fully operational, and will essentially double the amount of direct international cable capacity connectivity from the East Coast of Australia to the West Coast of the United States.
“Australia and New Zealand will benefit from this new direct and low latency link with the technology innovation hub of the world in California,” he said.
“The new system will also complement our existing lowest latency links between Sydney and Auckland, and Auckland to Los Angeles enhancing our eco-system connectivity with our closest neighbours across the Tasman and the Pacific.”
The SX cable last week landed in Kiritimati, Kiribati and the news was marked by a local SX NEXT landing party and Kiribati ministers.
The $350 million SX NEXT cable is being deployed by Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) and is among the largest single submarine cable infrastructure projects in the world.
