FirstPath to lay new Sydney Harbour cable

Network operator FirstPath will today lay a new two-segment cable across Sydney Harbour to service commercial, government and residential customers.

Linked gallery: Photos: FirstPath lays new Sydney cable

FirstPath will lay one cable length underneath the Harbour Bridge, with a second spanning Dawes Point and Blues Point, as first reported by CommsDay.

The cable is manufactured by Prysmian. The FlexTube XS cables can be wound in tight radius without breakage or signal loss. 

Each segment features 720 cores for a total of 1440, at a cost of up to $750,000.

Routes of the two new Sydney cables. Source: FirstPath

FirstPath chief executive Stephen Carter said the new cable would provide short low-latency paths between Sydney and the North Shore, reaching potential users such as the ASX, Metronode, Equinix and Global Switch data centres.

Competing network operator Vocus laid a 1.6 kilometre, two-segment underwater cable in Sydney Harbour in 2012.

The cable was also manufactured by Prysmian. It has 312 cores and runs from Dawes Point to Blues Point with the first segment, and to Milsons Point with the second.

FirstPath expects to lay the cable  after rush hour today to avoid interfering with Sydney ferries.