SUBCO is a specialist consulting and investment company that has developed some of the world’s most innovative submarine cable networks, including the Oman Australia Cable (OAC), INDIGO West and INDIGO Central. SUBCO has a strong track record of developing, owning and operating large-scale submarine infrastructure in the Australasia region, which has provided critical digital gateways to Asia, North America and EMEA. Over the last five years, we have amassed a formidable portfolio of submarine infrastructure and, with the recent SMAP cable project, will be approaching $750m of investment.

SUBCO’s core offerings include a range of connectivity services between cities in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Europe. Our customers achieve this connectivity via interconnecting their required endpoints through SUBCO’s owned and operated subsea fibre assets as well as third-party systems.

SUBCO offers a range of products associated with its fibre assets which cater to both small and intensive bandwidth requirements as well as various commercial constructs. This ultimately allows customers to lease capacity on a short-term basis or gain ownership economics over a longer period of time.

SUBCO is an independently owned company that was founded by Australian tech entrepreneur Bevan Slattery in 2016.

SUBCO is a part of Soda, Australia’s launchpad for innovative digital infrastructure, environmental sustainability and ventures. With a track record of transforming ideas into ASX-listed innovations – including Megaport, Superloop, NEXTDC and Pipe Networks – Soda actively incubates a diverse portfolio of next-generation businesses that will forge a better future for Australia. These currently include SUBCO, HyperOne, Biopixel, Biopixel Oceans Foundation, Cloudscene and Argo Expeditions.

A submarine cable system is a network of fibre optic cables laid on the ocean floor, connecting different continents and countries to enable high-speed data transmission and communication. Using fibre optic technology (which transmits information as light pulses), these cable systems form the backbone of global internet connectivity and are essential for international telecommunications.

Key submarine cable systems in Australia include the Oman Australia Cable (OAC), INDIGO West and INDIGO Central. These systems are developed, owned and operated by Australian companies like SUBCO and enable connections to international destinations such as Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. 

Other Australian submarine cable systems that are currently in the planning and construction stages include OAC’s Salalah Gateway and SMAP. OAC Salalah is a strategic extension of SUBCO’s OAC into the Middle East’s new global interconnection hub, and SMAP is a new transcontinental cable connecting Sydney, Melbourne (Torquay), Adelaid and Perth (S-M-A-P) which marks the first stage of construction of HyperOne, Australia’s first national fibre backhaul network.

Undersea cable networks are essential for global connectivity as they carry the majority of international data traffic. They provide faster, more reliable and higher-capacity connections compared to satellite communication systems. Undersea cables also support various industries, including telecommunications, financial services, healthcare and media, by ensuring seamless data transmission across the world. 

As the only continent with no physical connection to other landmasses, Australia especially relies on undersea cables for its international communication needs. That’s why SUBCO is committed to delivering secure, low-latency and high-capacity submarine cable systems to Australia, including INDIGO West, INDIGO Central, the Oman Australia Cable (OAC) and SMAP.

Underwater cable networks are designed with multiple layers of protection, including steel wire armour and specialised cable coatings, to withstand the harsh marine environments and potential external threats. Once built, SUBCO’s SMAP cable will be Australia’s first fully armoured long-haul submarine cable system, enabling superior protection from damage and subsequent unplanned outages. 

Across all its cable systems and projects, SUBCO employs various protection measures and monitoring systems to minimise the risk of cable damage and adhere to high-performance standards set out in service agreements, ensuring the security and reliability of our networks.

Submarine cables typically have minimal environmental impact, as they are carefully deployed to avoid the disturbance of marine ecosystems. Cable routes are purposefully mapped to circumnavigate sensitive areas and reduce potential harm to the environment, including marine flora and fauna. Modern cables are also designed to be energy-efficient, reducing the overall carbon footprint of global communications infrastructure. 

Particularly noteworthy is SUBCO’s SMAP cable. It has been strategically designed to utilise 12 fibre pairs and Space Division Multiplexing (SDM) technology, which will render the cable system 25 times more energy-efficient than all legacy terrestrial inter-capital submarine cable systems that currently exist along the same route. The system – once built – will also be the world’s first zero carbon long-haul submarine cable system, which will be achieved with the installation of solar and renewable infrastructure at all cable landing station locations and the purchase of 100% renewable energy.

Australia’s demand for high-speed internet and robust communications infrastructure is only expected to surge. The planning and construction of new submarine cables – such as OAC Salalah and SMAP – is underway to expand Australia’s undersea cable network, increasing capacity and redundancy, as well as fostering digital inclusion among regional and remote communities. Advancements in cable technology, such as improved fibre optics and Space Division Multiplexing (SDM), will also contribute to the nation’s connectivity capabilities.