Now the JGA South shore end work has been completed by AARNet, Alcatel Submarine Cable Networks' (ASN’s) cable ship Ile de Brehat will lay the cable north towards Guam.

JGA South is expected to be ready for service by March 2020.

It will complement the recently completed Indigo cable system, forming an ring between Australia and North and South East Asia.

Current coherent optical technology gives JGA South’s two-fibre pairs a capacity of 36Tbps.

ASN’s spectrum sharing technology allows each consortium member to independently take advantage of technology advancements for future upgrades.

“Indigo was the first in a number of significant investments for research and education in Australia. JGA South is our second, and equally important, investment to meet the future growth in collaborative research and transnational education between Australia and our important partners in Asia," said AARNet CEO Chris Hancock

"As the Sydney landing party, AARNet sincerely thanks its build partners and especially Northern Beaches Council for its far-sighted and active support in the on-time delivery of this new and critical infrastructure for Australia.”

Alphabet subsidiary Google and undersea cable owner RTI are also involved in the project.