The cable landing station will house the connection point for the international submarine cable with landside communication networks and is a vital piece of infrastructure in a project that the Sunshine Coast Council says will deliver much needed diversity for Australia’s international communication needs - as well significant economic benefits for the Sunshine Coast and Queensland.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick were on the Sunshine Coast today to mark the completion of the $7.2 million facility.

Mayor Mark Jamieson said the completion of the cable landing station marked another milestone in the delivery of the Sunshine Coast international broadband network.

“Unlike traditional cable landing stations that are normally non-descript buildings out of view from the general public, our landing station is designed to reflect Council’s design vision for the Maroochydore city centre,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“Our Sunshine Coast will offer the fastest data and telecommunications transmission from the eastern seaboard of Australia to Asia once the submarine cable comes ashore and is in service next year.

“It will help to position our region to become Australia’s first Digital Trade Hub – taking a region-wide approach to data and digital connectivity which will benefit a wide cross section of businesses and industries.

“Projects such as the Sunshine Coast International Broadband Network enable our region, its economy and our community to be well-positioned to respond to the rapidly evolving demands of the 21st century.

“When completed, this network will provide direct international data and telecommunications from the Sunshine Coast – the only location in Australia outside of Sydney and Perth to provide this direct international connectivity.

“This will afford a significant step-change to the Sunshine Coast’s attractiveness as an investment location.”

The landing station is part of the Sunshine Coast International Broadband Cable Network being delivered with $15 million in funding from the Queensland Government’s $175 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund and $20 million from the Sunshine Coast Council.

Premier Palaszczuk said the project is facilitating the direct landing of a new undersea internet data cable at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast and will generate almost $1 billion for the state economy.

“This $7.2 million cable landing station is the gateway to better internet connectivity for Queensland businesses,” the Premier said.

“Better connectivity means faster processing times for bigger data and more jobs.

“The cable will be able to provide Australia’s fastest data and telecommunications transmission speeds to Asia and the second fastest to the USA.

“It pitches Queensland firms to the forefront of the digital economy and will be a major drawcard for businesses and investment.”

Robert Linsdell, Managing Director of Vertiv (Australia and New Zealand) – which was contracted to design and construct the cable landing station - said through the development of the landing station, Sunshine Coast Council is taking a huge step towards future-proofing the region’s digital future.

“The importance of investing in the right internet infrastructure cannot be overstated, particularly as we enter a new era of IoT and smart cities, where reliable connectivity will be paramount to all aspects of our daily lives,” Linsdell said.

The international broadband network is exactly the kind of infrastructure needed to continue that growth, enable increased connectivity and enhance the Sunshine Coast’s and Queensland’s position as a leading technology and business hub.

“Having a vision for these new technologies is one thing, but council is going further by making this important investment and bringing its vision to reality.”