Australia Singapore Cable project takes initial steps

Australia's Nextgen Group has signed a US$120 million joint venture memorandum of understanding with Australian network provider Vocus to build and operate the Australia Singapore Cable (ASC). ASC would run 4,600 km between Perth and Singapore.

Nextgen Group asserts the submarine cable network, which also would serve Indonesia, would be the first to provide 100-Gbps connectivity from Western Australia (WA) to South-East Asia. Assuming it survives due diligence and the regulatory approval process, the submarine network project will begin an 18-month construction operation in the first quarter of 2016.

"Our new cable will provide a high-speed, low latency path to Singapore and Jakarta, both key growth markets and IT centers," explained Nextgen CEO David Yuile. "It will also be very beneficial for the WA economy, particularly the resource sector, providing direct connectivity to the Asia Pacific region."

Nextgen already has undersea fiber-optic networks experience with the US$150 North West Cable submarine project, which aims to connect off-shore resources platforms in the Browse, Canarvon and Bonaparte Basins from Port Hedland to Darwin. The company expects to complete that project in mid-2016.

In Perth, Nextgen has a Tier III certified data center at Shenton Park. The company has launched an expansion project to triple its capacity.

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