The 150m Dependable brought a major subsea cable to Maroochydore on Tuesday, creating a key link between Australia and the United States.

As part of the Australia Connect initiative, the Tabua international submarine cable will connect Queensland through the Pacific and to the US via high-speed and secure cable.

The landing creates the first direct subsea cable connection between Australia and the US that is diverse from Sydney.

The connection is expected to help businesses, governments and communities across Australia benefit from faster, more reliable digital services.

Beachgoers witnessed the arrival of the Dependable, just off the coast, before the cable was pulled ashore via an operation involving excavators, winches, boats and divers.

The cable landing builds on Sunshine Coast Council’s previous infrastructure investments and is supported by NEXTDC’s SC1 data centre and SC2 data centre currently under construction in the Maroochydore City Centre.

The Tabua cable will also land in Sydney, Fiji, Hawaii and the United States, reinforcing the Sunshine Coast as a digital gateway to the world.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli celebrated the cable landing at Maroochydore.

“The Tabua cable will mean faster, more reliable internet for locals, businesses and the Pacific,” she said.

“I’m delighted that Google is now a partner and actively investing in Queensland and, more particularly, on the Sunshine Coast.

“These investments are designed to secure long-term economic growth and digital resilience for the Sunshine Coast, Queensland and Australia.

“This project is expected to unlock new opportunities in tech, data centres and smart city development, further strengthening the region’s reputation as an innovation hub.”

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