Bevan Slattery launches $1.5b fibre network project HyperOne

Telecommunications and cloud entrepreneur Bevan Slattery has embarked on the largest private, independent digital infrastructure project in Australia's history, with plans to connect all the country's capitals as well as Launceston through more than 20,000km of fibre.

HyperOne is expected to generate 10,000 new jobs during construction, and upon completion it will be capable of speeds above 10,000 terabits per second.

Slattery claims this is "more traffic than every other national backbone built in Australia's history combined".

"The current networks have served Australia well for the past 20 years but they are nearing the end of their useful life and they were designed for a different time," he says.

"All the existing national transmission networks were built back when there was no Youtube, Netflix, social media, iPhones, or even cloud, let alone the future industries."

The serial entrepreneur's SUB.CO group recently completed the manufacturing stage for 9,800km of cable to connect Australia with Oman, in a project aimed at improving internet connectivity and reducing latency with the Middle East and Europe.

Slattery describes HyperOne as "big, bold and way overdue".

"HyperOne will be the first true private national fibre backbone project connecting major data hubs in every capital city in every state and territory across Australia," he says.

"HyperOne will also create new major interconnection points for more international undersea cables into Australia from Asia and as far as the Americas and Antarctica.

"With the current geopolitical instability in the region there is unprecedented  opportunity for Australia to become the region's leading, secure and stable hub for future industries and jobs."

Slattery adds previous fibre networks didn't address the digital divide in remote and regional Australia, which is why HyperOne will include more than 1,000 on-ramps in these parts of the country that have been underserved, allong for cost-effective access to the network.

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher welcomes HyperOne's announcement that it plans to make a very significant investment in a new backbone fibre optic transmission network across Australia.

"HyperOne's planned network would deliver a major boost in data transmission capacity into many cities and towns across Australia, which in turn would open up new economic opportunities, support new industries and generate jobs," Minister Fletcher says.

Meanwhile, South Australian Premier Steven Marshall is thrilled his state will play a big part in the nation's first hyperscale national fibre network.

"HyperOne means jobs for South Australians," Premier Marshall says.

"Not only do we already have a huge contingent of high-tech companies working out of Lot Fourteen -  we expect to see even more companies base their headquarters here to take advantage of Adelaide's unique position in this new network," he says, days after Amazon Web Services did just that.

Marshal says the project supports his government's economic plan to invest in new jobs in future industries including space, cybersecurity, defence and agritech.

"I thank Bevan Slattery for this massive investment in our State and having a vision that will see this project made by Australians for Australians," he adds.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner also welcomes the announcement of HyperOne, saying it will underpin thousands of new jobs in the territory.

"HyperOne will help cement the Territory's position as Australia's comeback capital, making Darwin the key point of digital interconnect between South East Asia, the fastest growing digital market on earth and Australia's east coast," Minister Gunner says .

"We will be the digital entrance for the rest of Asia into Australia, and we are ready to roll out the red carpet. This will create jobs here in the Territory, as well as opening up considerable economic opportunities and encouraging digital investment in the Territory.

"Infrastructure investment at this scale will supercharge Darwin's appeal as a base for both digital start-ups and multinational companies.In addition, it will help reduce the digital divide between our cities, regional centres and remote communities, better enabling access to online learning and telehealth."

Slattery launched an online portal yesterday for interested companies to register their interest in partnering or working on the project.

"I want to see this project made by Australians for Australians," he says.

Business News Australia