The SMAP Build has been immortalised in a miniature model and is on display at Ausnog 24. Comprising of 4,456 pieces and measuring in at 1.2 metres, the model features key components of the subsea build process, including the cable ship, survey ship, beach manhole and cable landing station.

• PFE: For Perth , Sydney,  Adelaide and Torquay have been manufactured & tested
• Cable: 38% of the cable has been completed, with 2042 km out of 5265 km manufactured
• Repeaters: 71% completion, with 43 out of 60 repeaters manufactured and tested
• Branching Units: No progress yet on the manufacturing of Branching Units

• Finalising the completion of manufacturing processes
• Preparing for system assembly and testing phases
• Ensuring readiness of the land route and landing station infrastructure
• Planning the load and lay program to align with the project’s timeline

The design for our Torquay Cable Landing Station (CLS) has officially been approved and is scheduled to commence construction in the coming months.

With a facility size of 258 square meters, the cable landing station comprises of 2 independent rooms, each equipped with its own uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and cooling systems. Plus, two un-interrupted power supply backup systems, and an advanced security system.  

What is a cable Landing station?

Cable Landing Stations (CLS) are integral components of global communications infrastructure, serving as the termination points for submarine communication cables. At the CLS, the submarine cable interfaces with terrestrial cabling systems, facilitating the transition and connection to broader network infrastructure and data centres. 

We’re excited to report that the beach manhole component in Adelaide has been completed. 

Over the past 70 days, our construction partner CODMAH has put in significant effort to complete the challenging ocean lead-in, culminating in the installation of our custom-designed beach manhole.

The ocean lead-in is a crucial segment of the cable route that extends from terrestrial infrastructure into the marine environment, playing a vital role in safeguarding the cable and facilitating a seamless transition from land to sea. The manhole provides access to essential cable components, such as conduits, splice points, and accessories, enabling technicians to perform maintenance, inspections, or repairs. However, these access points are generally not accessed frequently, with typical intervals between openings ranging from 10 to 15 years. 

As we reach the one-year mark on the SMAP project, we sat down with Bevan to get his perspective on the last twelve months and an insight into what’s on the horizon.

“I’m excited to share some key updates. It’s been a busy and challenging year, with this project standing out due to its scope and complexity, particularly with multiple landings across Australia—Sydney, Melbourne (Torquay), Adelaide, and Perth. Many of these sites lack established cable protection zones, with Adelaide and Torquay never having a fibre submarine cable landing adding to the challenge. 

The level of effort in design, permitting, environmental planning and community consultation has been unprecedented. No other subsea telecommunications cable project in Australia has required this degree of groundwork.

This first year, we’ve secured nearly all permits, completed surveys, started cable manufacturing, started construction of the system fronthaul in Sydney and Perth and reached the halfway point in manufacturing the system repeaters. 

A highlight for me has been the way our whole team has come together. We have a core group with exceptional subsea experience, but the scale of this project has meant we needed to build out a larger team and at times it has tested our limits. But every time the team has risen to the challenge, supporting each other through every hurdle. Problems are inevitable, but their resilience and ability to manage and solve them has been impressive. 

Looking ahead, the next 12 months promise even more excitement. By year’s end, cable manufacturing will be complete, including assembly and testing well. Shortly after, the system will be loaded onto the ship, for transit and installation.

We’ve completed drilling in Adelaide and will finish in Sydney, Perth later this year with Melbourne (Torquay) next year. All landing infrastructure will be ready within the next 12 months including our new Torquay cable landing station (CLS), just in time for the ship’s arrival mid-2025. 

This project has tested us, but it’s also been a journey of innovation and collaboration. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”

SUBCO’s decision to establish a cable landing point in Torquay as part of the SMAP cable route heralds a significant development in bolstering connectivity between Torquay and Melbourne. By creating a diverse connection route, this strategic move enhances the resilience and reliability of communication networks through Geelong to the coast. Torquay’s coastal location further offers logistical advantages for SMAP installation and ensures a direct link to Melbourne – strengthening the region’s digital infrastructure and underscoring SUBCO’s commitment to diversifying network pathways.

Andy is Product Lead for SUBCO/SODA Infrastructure. Having been in the industry for 15 years, Andy is able to appreciate the sheer magnitude of what the SMAP cable system is set to achieve.

In his words, “SMAP marks a step change in the capacities and types of products that can be purchased between cities within Australia. The conversations are going to shift from how many bits (bps) you have between cities to how many hertz (hz). To be part of the project which will bring that to the mainstream in Australia is very exciting. It’s one of those shifts that product owners might see once in their careers.”

A few weeks ago, we embarked on a critical assignment to assess the existing ducts for our planned route between Melbourne and Torquay. As we’ve emphasised before, our commitment to minimising environmental and community impact guides every decision we make, ensuring we always opt for the most efficient solutions.

With the survey and rod and roping of the entire 98.5 km route now completed, we have a clear understanding of the infrastructure we can utilise and the areas where new construction is necessary. Armed with this data, we can proceed with procuring the required pits and fibre, marking the beginning of the backhaul installation phase.

After a successful HDD completion, the team is now dismantling the rig in preparation for the Beach Manhole excavation works. Over the past week, we completed the final steps to conclude the HDD. These included verifying the offshore HDD exit with divers, testing and installing the messenger rope, which will ultimately be used to draw in the optic fibre cable from the ocean when the cable ship arrives mid-next year. Additionally, the team fitted the necessary hardware to the conduits and conducted a site cleanup to ensure a smooth transition into the Beach Manhole construction.

We are no stranger to Perth and when it comes to Fronthaul, we are well and truly ready to go.

The Team’s at Diversified & Amstar are hard at work completing augmentation work on our already existing network to ensure the larger, fully armoured subsea cable system can be safely hauled.

The team will be working through a 9km route to ensure that a newly designed sub-duct can traverse the existing network and allow hauling operations to be completed when SMAP arrives in Perth.

We would like to thank Diversified & Amstar for their long standing relationship with Soda and look forward to continuing a great partnership.