Australian Cable Database Page

Australasian Region

This page was last updated on 16 April 2007

Use your browser's FIND command to locate a specific cable by name, owner, landing, etc. (on most browsers the FIND command is located under the EDIT menu). A ~ symbol indicates a submarine power cable.

IN SERVICE

PLANNED

OUT OF SERVICE

REGIONAL MENU

Note: Cables listed by In-Service date

IN SERVICE CABLES
The following table lists cables in the waters of Australia and New Zealand plus the owner(s) of the cable where known. For completeness, the table also includes details of out-of-service (OOS) cables but it should be noted that many of these were originally owned by British Australia Telegraph Company, Pacific Cable Board, Eastern Extension Company, Imperial & International Communications Ltd. et al. Most of the cable systems laid before 1926 should be regarded as "uncharted". NB: "uncharted" means that they are not shown on hydrographic charts issued by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Hydrographic Office due to incomplete or missing archive records.
Cook Strait (Updated 17 October 2002 - Transpower)	In-Service: 1990 Oteranga Bay -- Fighting Bay. Two fibre optic unrepeatered cables, each 42 km. Cable contains 12 fibres and operates at 560Mb/s. Maintenance Authority: TransPower NZ Ltd
Cook Strait 4 (CKS 4) ~ (Updated 4 February 2005 - Transpower NZ)	In-Service: June 1991 Oteranga Bay -- Fighting Bay. 42km in length. 1400 sq. mm, 350kV DC Power Cable. Maintenance Authority: Transpower NZ Ltd
Cook Strait 5 (CKS 5) ~ (Updated 4 February 2005 - Transpower NZ)	In-Service: June 1991 Oteranga Bay -- Fighting Bay. 42km in length. 1400 sq. mm, 350kV DC Power Cable. Maintenance Authority: Transpower NZ Ltd
Cook Strait 6 (CKS 6) ~ (Updated 4 February 2005 - Transpower NZ)	In-Service: June 1991 Oteranga Bay -- Fighting Bay. 42km in length. 1400 sq. mm, 350kV DC Power Cable. Maintenance Authority: Transpower NZ Ltd
Wellington Harbour	In-Service: 1991 Point Halswell -- Eastborne. Fibre Optic unrepeatered cable, 7 km Maintenance Authority: TNZ.
TASMAN 2 - PacRimEast Tie cable	In-Service: 1992 Scott Point -- Island Bay, Auckland. Unrepeatered fibre optic cable, 15 km in length. Maintenance Authority: TNZ.
TASMAN 2 (Updated 20 September 2001 - Reach Global Networks)	In-Service: 1 March 1992 Sydney, Australia -- Auckland, New Zealand - 2195 km at 2 x 560 Mb/s Maintenance Authorities: Reach GNL, TNZ.
PacRimEast	In-Service: 1993 Keawaula, Hawaii -- Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand, 7855km at 560 Mb/s Maintenance Authorities: TNZ, AT&T
Bass Strait 1 (Australian Domestic)	In-Service: 1995 Sandy Point, Victoria, Australia -- Boat Harbour, Tasmania, Australia - 241 km at 2.5 Gb/s Maintenance Authorities: Telstra
JASURAUS (Updated 27 August 2002 - Reach Global Networks)	In-Service: Jan 1997 Ancol, Indonesia -- Port Hedland, Australia - 2795 km at 5 Gb/s Maintenance Authorities: Reach GNL, PT Indosat
SEA-ME-WE-3 South-East Asia - Middle East - Western Europe 3 (Updated 27 August 2002 - Reach Global Networks)	In Service: August 1999 Segment S3: Tuas, Singapore -- Ancol, Jakarta, Indonesia -- Perth, West Australia - approx. 4757 km at 4 x 2.5 Gb/s (upgradable to 8 x 2.5 Gb/s) Maintenance Authorities: Singtel, PT Indosat, Reach GNL
Southern Cross Cable Network (Updated 25 October 2005 - SCCL)	In-Service: Nov 2000 Segment A: Alexandria, Sydney, Australia to Whenuapai, Auckland, New Zealand Segment B: Whenuapai, Auckland, New Zealand to Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand Segment C: Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand to Spencer Beach, Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands Segment D: Spencer Beach, Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands to Morro Bay, California, US Mainland Segment E: Morro Bay, California, US Mainland to Hillsboro, Oregon, US Mainland Segment F2: Hillsboro, Oregon, US Mainland to Nedonna Beach, Oregon, US Mainland Segment F1: Nedonna Beach, Oregon, US Mainland to Kahe Point, Ohau, Hawaiian Islands Segment G1: Kahe Point, Ohau, Hawaiian Islands to Suva, Fiji Segment G2: Suva, Fiji to Brookvale, North Sydney, Australia Segment H: Brookvale, North Sydney, Australia to Alexandria, Sydney, Australia In-Service: Feb 2001 Segment I: Spencer Beach, Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands to Kahe Point, Ohau, Hawaiian Islands Segments B, E, F2 and H are land based segments using terrestrial transmission technologies, remainder are submerged plant segments using submarine cable WDM technology. Segments A, C, G1, G2 and I operate at 40 Gbit/s per fibre pair on 2 fibre pairs. Segments D and F1 operate at 40 Gbit/s per fibre pair on 3 fibre pairs. One additional fibre pair on Segments A, C, D, F1, G1 and G2 was upgraded to 160 Gbit/s operation in 2002. Capacity on the segments is divided into 3 SDH rings comprising: a) A North-South ring of Segments A, B, C, D, E, F2, F1, G1, G2 and H. b) A northern ring of Segments D, E, F2, F1 and I. c) A southern ring of Segments A, B, C, I, G1, G2 and H. Total cumulative length of the segments is approximately 30,500km. Maintenance Authority: Southern Cross Cables Limited (SCCL) through Singtel Optus, TNZ, Verizon, Worldcom and Fintel
Levin - Nelson (Cook Strait) Cable (Updated 28 October2005 TNZ)	In-Service: June 2001 Levin, North Island -- Nelson, South Island - approx 200 km length. SDH DWDM technology. 24 fibre cable. Maintenance Authority: TNZ.
AJC Australia - Japan Cable (Updated 2 April 2004 - AJC)	In-Service: December 2001 Paddington & Oxford Falls, Australia -- Tumon Bay & Tanguisson Point, Guam -- Shima & Maruyama, Japan - approx. 12,700 km at 320 Gb/s + 320 Gb/s max. Initially equipped for 40 Gb/s + 40 Gb/s. Maintenance Authorities: Australia Japan Cable Limited through Reach GNL, AT&T, Japan Telecom, NTT- Com.
Cook Strait Fibre Optic Cable 9 (Updated 18 August 2003 - Transpower NZ)	In-Service: 1 August 2003 Oteranga Bay -- Fighting Bay. 40km in length. Cable contains 48 fibres. Maintenance Authority: Transpower NZ Ltd
Cook Strait Fibre Optic Cable 10 (Updated 18 August 2003 - Transpower NZ)	In-Service: 1 August 2003 Oteranga Bay -- Fighting Bay. 40km in length. Cable contains 48 fibres. Maintenance Authority: Transpower NZ Ltd
Bass Strait 2 (Updated 4 November 2005 - Reach Global Networks)	In-Service: 2003 Inverloch, Victoria, Australia -- Stanley, Tasmania, Australia - 239 km at 2.5 Gb/s Maintenance Authorities: Telstra
Basslink ~ Victoria - Tasmania (Updated 25 October 2005 - National Grid Australia)	In-Service: November 2005 McGaurans Beach, Victoria -- Four Mile Bluff, Tasmania. 298km bundled power cable (400kV), metallic return and fibre optic. Maintenance Authorities: National Grid Australia
PLANNED Cables	Return to Top
	No planned cables listed.
OUT OF SERVICE CABLES	Return to Top
La Perouse - Wakapauka	In-Service: 1876, Out-of-Service: 1932, Years of Service: 56 yrs Telegraph cable from La Perouse, Sydney, Australia to Wakapauka, New Zealand (landing site moved to Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia in 1917) Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
La Perouse - Nelson	In-Service: 1890, Out-of-Service: 1956, Years of Service: 66 yrs Telegraph cable from La Perouse, Sydney, Australia to Nelson, New Zealand (landing site moved to Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia in 1917. The New Zealand landing site and terminal was first moved to Wellington in 1917 and then moved to a landing site at Muriwai Beach and a terminal in Auckland in 1932) Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
Auckland - Sydney	In-Service: 1912, Out-of-Service: 1964, Years of Service: 52 yrs Telegraph cable from Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
Southport - Sydney	In-Service: 1923, Out-of-Service: 1964, Years of Service: 41 yrs Telegraph cable from Sydney, NSW, Australia to Southport, Qld, Australia plus a spare shore end 9nm long from Sydney. Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
Norfolk Is. - Southport	In-Service: 1902, Out-of-Service: 1964, Years of Service: 52 yrs Telegraph cable from Southport, Australia to Norfolk Island Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
New Zealand - Norfolk Is.	In-Service: 1902, Out-of-Service: 1964, Years of Service: 52 yrs Telegraph cable from Anson Bay, Norfolk Island to Doubtless Bay, Kaitaia, New Zealand (landing site moved to Takapuna Beach, Auckland, New Zealand in 1912) Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
New Zealand - Fiji	In-Service: 1923, Out-of-Service: 1964, Years of Service: 41 yrs Telegraph cable from Suva, Fiji to Auckland New Zealand Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
Norfolk Is. - Fiji	In-Service: 1902, Out-of-Service: 1964, Years of Service: 52 yrs Telegraph cable from Norfolk Island - Fiji - Fanning Island thence to Bamfield, Canada Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
Norfolk Is. - Fiji	In-Service: 1926, Out-of-Service: 1964, Years of Service: 38 yrs Telegraph cable from Norfolk Island - Fiji - Fanning Island thence to Bamfield, Canada Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
Cottesloe - Glenelg	In-Service: 1926, Out-of-Service: 1948, Years of Service: 26 yrs Telegraph cable across the Great Australian Bight from Glenelg, South Australia to Cottesloe, Western Australia Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
COSCLO 1 Cottesloe - Cocos Island	In-Service: 1901, Out of Service: 1966 Telegraph cable from Cottesloe, Western Australia to Cocos Island and beyond. Some of this cable was recovered near Fremantle, Western Australia by C&W in 1986. Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
COSCLO 2 Cottesloe - Cocos Island	In-Service: 1926, Out of Service: 1966 Telegraph cable from Cottesloe, Western Australia to Cocos Island and beyond. Some of this cable was recovered near Fremantle, Western Australia by C&W in 1986. Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
Darwin - Banjoewangi 1	In-Service: 1871, Out-of-Service: 1930, Years of Service: 59 yrs Telegraph cable from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia to Banjoewangi, Java, Indonesia. Some of this cable has been recovered by C&W. Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
Darwin - Banjoewangi 2	In-Service: 1880, Out-of-Service: 1950, Years of Service: 70 yrs Telegraph cable from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia to Banjoewangi, Java, Indonesia. Some of this cable has been recovered by C&W. Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
Banjoewangi - Broome	In-Service: 1889, Out-of-Service: 1914, Years of Service: 25 yrs Telegraph cable from Roebuck Bay, Broome, Western Australia - Banjoewangi, Java, Indonesia.. Virtually all recovered in 1914-1915. Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
Norfolk Is .- Sydney	This cable, while not carrying traffic was formed by cutting and joining the Sydney-Southport and the Southport-Norfolk Island Cables in 1970. The operation was carried out approximately 35nm from Southport in depths of 900-1000 metres. Some of this cable was cleared prior to the lay of PacRimWest. Maintenance Authority: Cable and Wireless
Bundaberg - New Caledonia	In-Service: 1893, Out-of-Service: 1895 or 1898, Years of Service: 2 or 5 yrs Telegraph cable from Mon Repos, Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia to New Caledonia (laid 1893 abandoned 1895 or 1898). Maintenance Authority: FT Marine
COMPAC Commonwealth Pacific Cable	In-Service: 1962/1963, Out-of-Service: retired 1983/1984, Years of Service: 21 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada -- Port Alberni, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada -- Keawaula, Oahu, Hawaii USA -- Suva, Fiji -- Auckland, New Zealand -- Sydney, Australia - 15,248km at 240 + 240 KHz Maintenance Authorities: Teleglobe, Fintel, NZPO, Telstra [formerly OTC(A)]
SEACOM	In-Service: 1966, Out-of-Service: 1986, Years of Service: 21 Cairns, Australia -- Madang, Papua New Guinea -- Tumon Bay, Guam -- Deep Water Bay, Hong Kong -- Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia -- Singapore 160/80 channel coaxial analogue Maintenance Authorities: Telstra [formerly OTC(A) for Aust, PNG & Guam], HKTI, Singtel, TM
Tasman 1 (Updated 20 September 2001 - Reach Global Networks)	In-Service: March, 1976 Out of Service 28th July 2001, Years of Service: 25 Sydney, Australia -- Auckland, New Zealand - 2176 km at 480 channel 5 MHz coaxial analogue Maintenance Authorities: Telstra, TNZ
ANZCAN Australia - New Zealand - Canada (Updated 27 August 2002 - Reach Global Networks)	In-Service: 1984, Fully Out-of Service 15 May 2002, Years of Service: 18 Segments "A" to "D" - Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada -- Keawaula, Hawaii -- Vatuooaqa, Fiji, -- Anson Bay, Norfolk Island -- Sydney, Australia - 1380 channel 14 MHz coaxial analogue 11,965 km Maintenance Authorities: Reach GNL, Teleglobe, FINTEL, AT&T Segment "E" - Norfolk Island -- Auckland, New Zealand - 480 channel 5 MHz coaxial analogue 1,358 km Maintenance Authorities: Reach GNL, TNZ
AIS Australia - Indonesia - Singapore (Updated 30 November 2005 - Reach Global Networks)	In-Service: 1986, Out-of Service: 1999, Years of Service: 13 Segment "A": Perth, Australia -- Ancol, Indonesia - 3426 km at 1380 channel 14MHz coaxial analogue. Segment "B": Ancol, Indonesia-- Singapore - 998 km at 1380 channel 14MHz coaxial analogue Maintenance Authorities: Telstra, PT Indosat, Singtel
PacRimWest (Updated 4 November 2005 - Reach Global Networks)	In-Service: 31 January 1995, Out of Service December 2004, Years of Service: 10 Tumon Bay, Guam -- Sydney, Australia - 7062 km at 560 Mb/s Maintenance Authorities: AT&T, Reach GNL
A-PNG Australia - Papua New Guinea (Updated 5 May 2006 - Reach Global Networks)	In-Service: July, 1976, Out-of Service: 9 March 2006, Years of Service: 30 Cairns, Australia -- Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - 897 km at 480 channel 5 MHz coaxial analogue Maintenance Authorities: Reach GNL, Telikom PNG

There are a number of OOS (Out Of Service) cables, both telephone and telegraph laid in various coastal areas of New Zealand including Cook Strait, Foveau Strait, Colville Channel. In general, these cables are uncharted, although some details are held in the New Zealand Government archives.
Ownership of these cables rests with the New Zealand Government.

There are a number of paired telephone cables in various coastal areas of New Zealand. A list of these cables is not available, although their as-laid positions are shown on the various New Zealand national Navigational Charts.

Return to Top

REGIONAL MENU