Capability 1.3.2.2
Subsea Cables
Definition
International and interregional subsea fibre optic connections enabling high-speed data exchange and cloud access, important for cross-border AI collaboration and redundancy.
Examples
- Subsea cables connecting national networks to global internet exchange points (e.g. INDIGO and Southern Cross NEXT).
Indicators
- Number of active international cables
- Aggregate cable capacity (Tbps)
- Geographical diversity of landing sites
National AI Plan
PLAN COMMITMENT
Limited commitment
Highlights Australia's geographical position in the subsea cable ecosystem, as well as ongoing laying of new subsea cables by private sector (Action 1) but no new funding or initiatives. Existing Australian Government initiatives focus on pacific cables (not Australian connectivity, which this metric measures). Plan includes no details on working across government to leverage this advantage to fill capability gaps elsewhere in the AI ecosystem. Limited commitment by government in the plan represents a strategic missed opportunity. More should be done to coordinate and build agency, including in partnership with the private sector.
Stocktake
Australia – Submarine Cable Map. TeleGeography. Updated 10 April 2026. https://www.submarinecablemap.com/country/australia
International submarine cables landing in Australia. Australian Communications and Media Authority. Updated 16 January 2026. https://www.acma.gov.au/international-submarine-cables-landing-australia
Connecting the Indo-Pacific: The future of subsea cables and opportunities for Australia. Kang. Australian Strategic Policy Institute. 25 September 2024. https://www.aspi.org.au/report/connecting-indo-pacific-future-subsea-cables-and-opportunities-australia/
Is the Stocktake missing evidence?
Share additional information for potential future Assessments