Second NZ undersea fibre cable gets closer with $350m deal

New Zealand submarine cable company Hawaiki Cable has committed to an international subsea cable project that would connect to Australia and the US in a deal that is slated to cost $350 million.

There is currently only one international link that connects New Zealand to the US.

Hawaiki Cable signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Northland Inc, a unit of Northland Regional Council, to land the cable in the Whangarei region in the north of New Zealand. A cable landing station and associated on-shore infrastructure would be built in Northland. The cable could be up and running in less than two years.

The cable will be based on 100Gbps wavelength technology, and will bring much-needed competition in the international links market in New Zealand, according to Hawaiki Cable.

Northland Inc will help with landing and funding the cable. There is also an option to connect the cable to a number of Pacific islands that sit near the intended route.

Northland Inc and Hawaiki are expected to finalise a deal in the next few months.