SX Tasman Express to boost Australia–New Zealand bandwidth

Southern Cross, Alcatel Submarine Networks and OMS Group have signed an agreement to build the SX Tasman Express subsea cable system, which will connect Sydney and Auckland.

The SX Tasman Express, or SX-TX, will utilise Alcatel Submarine Networks' subsea cable technology to provide up to 400 terabits of additional capacity via 16 fibre pairs for Southern Cross customers. The new system is designed to incorporate an Open Cable System architecture, allowing compatibility with future generations of submarine line terminals.

This Open Cable System architecture is aimed at supporting the evolving needs of digital applications requiring optimised latency and greater bandwidth, such as those driven by emerging artificial intelligence technologies and expanding cloud services.

The cable system also includes provisions for an alternate Australian landing through the use of Alcatel Submarine Networks' branching unit technology. The inclusion of this technology is subject to demand and further design confirmation.

OMS Group, in partnership with Alcatel Submarine Networks, has been tasked with the marine installation of the cable system, deploying its current fleet of vessels for the project. Completion of the SX Tasman Express is scheduled for 2028.

Laurie Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Cross Cables Limited, commented, "Tasman Express marks a significant step in enhancing digital infrastructure between Australia and New Zealand. With ASN and OMS's support, this system delivers ultra-high capacity, low-latency fibre connectivity, meeting the evolving demands of AI-driven cloud regions in Sydney and Auckland."

Ronnie Lim, Group Chief Executive Officer of OMS Group, said, "This partnership underscores our commitment to shaping the future of digital infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific. By deploying the SX-TX system, we are not only reinforcing vital links between Australia and New Zealand but also strengthening the backbone of regional connectivity. OMS Group is proud to play a central role in enabling resilient, high-capacity networks that empower communities and fuel digital economies."

Projesh Banerjea, Managing Director, Infrastructure at KKR, stated, "OMS Group's collaboration with Southern Cross Cables and ASN marks a meaningful step forward in strengthening the region's digital infrastructure. The SX-TX project brings to bear OMS Group's ability to deliver resilient, high-capacity subsea solutions and ASN's advanced technology to benefit Southern Cross' customers, and underscores OMS Group's commitment to enabling next-generation connectivity across the Asia-Pacific."

Paul Gabla, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Alcatel Submarine Networks, added, "ASN is delighted to be working again with Southern Cross team and our strategic partner OMS Group. Combining ASN's latest subsea technology with OMS's regional marine expertise, this project will be a transformational infrastructure asset significantly enhancing capacity and resilience across the Tasman Sea for Australia and New Zealand."

The SX-TX subsea cable system will become an additional element in the Southern Cross ecosystem, which currently includes diverse submarine cable communications networks linking Oceania to the US West Coast. Southern Cross' Southern Cross NEXT cable already delivers express data centre connectivity between Sydney, Auckland, and Los Angeles, and the new cable will further expand high-capacity links with over 400 terabits per second planned between Australia and New Zealand.

The deployment of the SX Tasman Express cable aims to address the growing requirements of data, cloud, and digital services providers by increasing capacity and reliability across a major digital corridor in the region.

Project leaders state that the adoption of Open Cable System architecture will accommodate technological advancements in submarine line terminal equipment, allowing the network to evolve as new technologies become available and providing Southern Cross with long-term flexibility for upgrades.

The new system continues recent trends in regional subsea infrastructure investment, with projects such as SX-TX designed to meet increased demand from content, cloud, and enterprise customers reliant on international connectivity between Australia, New Zealand, and the wider world.

The SX Tasman Express project, under the partnership between Southern Cross, Alcatel Submarine Networks and OMS Group, is expected to be completed in 2028.