Why Darwin could become 'a major interconnection point' for global data
As data centres and fibre-optic cable networks proliferate, planning documents show two international subsea cables could soon dock in the Darwin suburb of Fannie Bay.
A major interconnection point for global data may soon be established in Darwin, Australia, according to development applications and telecom analysts. The Northern Territory capital city is strategically positioned to serve markets in southeast Asia and Australia's southern states, making it an optimal location for subsea cables, terrestrial cables, and data centers.
Two international subsea cables, including Google's Bosun cable and Inligo Networks' first open cable landing station, are set to dock in Darwin's Fannie Bay suburb. Bosun will connect to Christmas Island before onward connectivity to Singapore, while Inligo's ACC-1 will link Darwin to Indonesia, East Timor, Singapore, the Philippines, Guam, and the US mainland. Meanwhile, Meta's Project Waterworth will also connect to Australia via Darwin.
Telecom analyst Marvin Tan noted that Darwin's prime location allows it to serve both Southeast Asia and Australia's southern states. The NT government has embraced these cables as crucial for making the Territory a regional digital infrastructure hub. ACC-1, the Unite Cable System, and the DJSC were highlighted in the government's Investment Prospectus.
However, Tan cautioned that the Bosun cable will not be operational until 2029, and other major projects like ACC-1 and Project Waterworth are expected to come online in 2029 or 2030. While Darwin has significant infrastructure development ahead, Tan emphasized that the city's strategic location and supportive government policies make it a promising candidate for becoming a major global data interconnection point.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
