NEXTDC taps in to 9,000km cable thanks to Superloop deal

Data centre operator NEXTDC (ASX: NXT) is set to benefit from higher speeds thanks to a deal with Superloop (ASX: SLC) that will see it plug into consortium INDIGO's 9,000km international fibre cable project.

Under the terms announced today, Superloop will provide NEXTDC's data centres in Perth (P1 and P2) and Sydney (S1 and S2) with optical layer connectivity to the subsea cable which connects Australia with Southeast Asian networks.

The service is expected to be ready by the second half of FY19, enabling speeds exceeding 36 terabits per second with significantly lower latency and greater reliability.

Superloop will also be the inaugural customer at NEXTDC's new world class 20MW P2 Tier IV data centre currently under development in East Perth.

"NEXTDC's customers want to design their networks, applications and service delivery capabilities using world-class services and direct access to the fastest, most diverse connections available," says NEXTDC CEO Craig Scroggie.

"Our partnership with Superloop provides our customers access to the most direct connectivity between Perth and Sydney, and the fastest gateway into Singapore - via a simple Cross Connect," he says.

"Having Indigo as our first P2 customer underlines the ever-increasing importance of cloud-to-cloud connectivity, whether national or international, and supports Perth's acceleration towards a cloud-based economy."

Superloop CEO Drew Kelton says the company is starting to see the benefits of its investments in infrastructure in Australia and South East Asia.

"INDIGO joins these markets together and in conjunction with NEXTDC provides a springboard for Australian businesses expanding in Asia or Asian business seeking a foothold in Australia," Kelton says.

The INDIGO consortium includes Superloop, AARnet, Google, Indosat, Singtel/Optus and Telstra.

Click here for more background on the INDIGO project.

Business News Australia