TasICT believes the state’s technology industry will be more resilient and secure if we are connected to an intercontinental cable.
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Last month six companies including Google and Telstra entered into an agreement with Alcatel Submarine Networks to build a new international cable system that will connect Singapore, Indonesia and Australia.
The two cables cable, totalling almost 10,000 kilometres, will start in Singapore before heading south to Jakarta, Perth and through the Bass Strait to Sydney.
The state government is canvassing opportunities to see Tasmania involved in the project.
TasICT chief executive Will Kestin said the state would benefit in several ways if it could be connected to the intercontinental marine cable.
Mr Kestin said the SubPartners cable would provide an alternative to the Basslink and Telstra cables that span the strait to Melbourne.
"From a security and market perspective it’s a great opportunity,” he said.
Mr Kestin said the addition of a third cable would provide more competition and he hoped it would drive prices down.
He estimated the price of using the two existing cables was eight-times the cost of transferring data between Sydney and Melbourne.
Information and technology partners hope to be involved in the project but government action is needed to drive opportunity.
Mr Kestin said the group was in favour of Basslink Two, but said the SubPartners’ project would create more competition and resilience.
“In order to really have proper resilience and network security you’ve got to have multiple cables,” he said. Mr Kestin said the SubPartners’ Sydney landing point provided an extra layer of security.