Telstra teamed up with Google to bolster digital infrastructure across Australia and Asia-Pacific, using a combination of fibre and subsea network integration to tap into growing demands for AI technology.

The partnership will see Google work with Telstra on its fibre backbone Aura network, securing inter-city dark fibre capacity, and target new opportunities “along some of Australia’s key connectivity corridors”. The increase in capacity is intended to give more Australian businesses and households the opportunity to connect faster and more securely to the rest of the world.

The Aura network is described by Telstra as the “backbone of Australia’s digital future”, run by its InfraCo division, providing ultrafast connectivity between cities and remote regions. The operator has already laid 8,000km of the network, which will increase to 14,000km when complete.

Connectivity hub
On the subsea side, Telstra will join Google’s Pacific Connect and Australia Connect initiatives to use subsea fibre pairs on the Tabua, Proa and Bulikula subsea systems, which provide the country with links to Japan, the Pacific Islands and the US, reinforcing the nation’s potential as a connectivity hub.

Through the integration of terrestrial and subsea, the duo touted benefits to security and resilience, as they can remove single points of network failure.

Telstra said it partnered with Google to further advance the technology giant’s AI capabilities in Australia, while enabling the operator to deliver “diverse and secure subsea pathways” to ensure networks are equipped to handle the growing demands of AI applications and workloads.

Telstra added underlying infrastructure must evolve to securely and reliably support data flows not only within Australia but across key international corridors.

Steve Worrall, CEO of Telstra Digital Infrastructure said “the partnership is about enhancing our national capability and ensuring that Australia remains seamlessly connected to the global economy”. 

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