Cable Landing Station Completed in Sunshine Coast

By Peter Dinham, ITWire
September 26, 2019

Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is set to get its first direct international data and telecommunications connection to global markets following the completion of a cable landing station at Maroochydore as part of the region’s international broadband network.

The cable landing station will house the connection point for the international submarine cable with landside communication networks and is a vital piece of infrastructure in a project that the Sunshine Coast Council says will deliver much needed diversity for Australia’s international communication needs – as well significant economic benefits for the Sunshine Coast and Queensland.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick were on the Sunshine Coast today to mark the completion of the $7.2 million facility.

Mayor Mark Jamieson said the completion of the cable landing station marked another milestone in the delivery of the Sunshine Coast international broadband network.

“Unlike traditional cable landing stations that are normally non-descript buildings out of view from the general public, our landing station is designed to reflect Council’s design vision for the Maroochydore city centre,” Mayor Jamieson said.“Our Sunshine Coast will offer the fastest data and telecommunications transmission from the eastern seaboard of Australia to Asia once the submarine cable comes ashore and is in service next year.

“It will help to position our region to become Australia’s first Digital Trade Hub – taking a region-wide approach to data and digital connectivity which will benefit a wide cross section of businesses and industries.

“Projects such as the Sunshine Coast International Broadband Network enable our region, its economy and our community to be well-positioned to respond to the rapidly evolving demands of the 21st century.

“When completed, this network will provide direct international data and telecommunications from the Sunshine Coast – the only location in Australia outside of Sydney and Perth to provide this direct international connectivity.

“This will afford a significant step-change to the Sunshine Coast’s attractiveness as an investment location.”

The landing station is part of the Sunshine Coast International Broadband Cable Network being delivered with $15 million in funding from the Queensland Government’s $175 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund and $20 million from the Sunshine Coast Council.