{
  "dataset": "New Zealand International Subsea Cable Tracker",
  "publisher": "Digital.nz Intelligence",
  "updated": "2026-08-24",
  "scope": "International telecommunications cable systems that land, or are publicly contracted or under construction to land, in New Zealand. Domestic telecommunications and electricity cables are excluded.",
  "method": "Design capacity is recorded only where a cable owner, supplier, government source or established industry map states a figure. Operating status and planned ready-for-service dates can change and must be reverified before investment decisions.",
  "summary": {
    "systems_tracked": 7,
    "confirmed_operating_systems": 4,
    "pipeline_systems_or_branches": 3,
    "confirmed_operating_south_island_international_landings": 0,
    "contracted_south_island_international_landings": 1,
    "publicly_stated_largest_pipeline_design_capacity_tbps": 400
  },
  "records": [
    {"system":"Southern Cross Cable Network (SCCN)","status":"Operating","evidence_status":"confirmed operating","nz_landing":"North Island / Auckland region","international_route":"Australia, Pacific, Hawaii and United States","ready_for_service":2000,"design_capacity_tbps":null,"route_role":"Legacy trans-Pacific network and protected connectivity","source":"https://www.ciena.com/about/newsroom/press-releases/southern-cross-achieves-worlds-first-1-tbs-transmission-across-the-pacific-with-ciena"},
    {"system":"Southern Cross NEXT","status":"Operating","evidence_status":"confirmed operating","nz_landing":"Auckland","international_route":"Sydney–Auckland–Los Angeles, with Pacific branches","ready_for_service":2022,"design_capacity_tbps":72,"route_role":"High-capacity direct trans-Pacific path","source":"https://www.ciena.com/about/newsroom/press-releases/southern-cross-next-launches%21"},
    {"system":"Tasman Global Access (TGA)","status":"Operating","evidence_status":"confirmed operating","nz_landing":"Raglan","international_route":"Raglan–Sydney","ready_for_service":2017,"design_capacity_tbps":20,"route_role":"Standalone trans-Tasman route","source":"https://media.one.nz/article/tasman-global-access-cable-goes-live-improving-new-zealands-connectivity-world"},
    {"system":"Hawaiki","status":"Operating","evidence_status":"confirmed operating","nz_landing":"Auckland region","international_route":"Australia–New Zealand–American Samoa–Hawaii–US West Coast","ready_for_service":2018,"design_capacity_tbps":135,"capacity_note":"Owner states 135+ Tbps following upgrades","route_role":"Independent trans-Pacific route and research connectivity","source":"https://www.bw-digital.com/projects/"},
    {"system":"Honomoana / New Zealand branch","status":"Construction announced; current operating status requires confirmation","evidence_status":"planned date passed — re-verification required","nz_landing":"Orewa / North Auckland","international_route":"New Zealand–Australia–French Polynesia–United States within South Pacific Connect","announced_ready_for_service":2026,"design_capacity_tbps":30,"capacity_note":"Vocus-stated capacity available between Australia and New Zealand","status_note":"Google said in October 2025 that the system was in advanced construction and expected to land in Orewa in early 2026. No later official source confirming current operation was located for this update.","route_role":"New direct Melbourne and Polynesia paths; hyperscaler-owned system","source":"https://blog.google/intl/en-nz/company-news/were-investing-in-connectivity-products-and-skills-for-new-zealands-ai-future/"},
    {"system":"SX Tasman Express (SX-TX)","status":"Supply contract signed","evidence_status":"contract confirmed; delivery pending","nz_landing":"Auckland","international_route":"Auckland–Sydney","announced_ready_for_service":2028,"design_capacity_tbps":400,"fiber_pairs":16,"route_role":"Large new open-cable trans-Tasman capacity","source":"https://www.asn.com/press-release/southern-cross-asn-and-oms-group-sign-sx-tasman-express-sx-tx-subsea-cable-supply-contract/"},
    {"system":"Tasman Ring Network — Phase 1","status":"Supply and installation contract signed","evidence_status":"contract confirmed; survey and installation pending","nz_landing":"Invercargill / Oreti Beach","international_route":"Invercargill–Melbourne","announced_ready_for_service":null,"route_length_km":2300,"design_capacity_tbps":160,"capacity_note":"At least 160 Tbps; completion date not stated in the July 2026 supply announcement","fiber_pairs":8,"route_role":"Proposed first international South Island landing and geographic diversity","source":"https://www.asn.com/press-release/tasman-ring-network-to-supercharge-south-island-connectivity-and-significantly-improve-the-resilience-of-new-zealands-internet/"}
  ],
  "domestic_connectivity_baseline": [
    {"indicator":"Population with fibre network available","value":87,"unit":"percent","period":"current MBIE policy baseline","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/it-communications-and-broadband/our-role-in-the-ict-sector/discussion-document-enhancing-telecommunications-regulatory-and-funding-frameworks/section-2"},
    {"indicator":"Fibre uptake within coverage","value":75,"unit":"percent of dwellings with fibre coverage","period":"current MBIE policy baseline","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/it-communications-and-broadband/our-role-in-the-ict-sector/discussion-document-enhancing-telecommunications-regulatory-and-funding-frameworks/section-2"},
    {"indicator":"UFB programme reach","value":390,"unit":"towns and cities","period":"programme target completed 2022","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/it-communications-and-broadband/digital-connectivity-programmes/broadband-and-mobile-programmes"},
    {"indicator":"Public investment in UFB infrastructure","value":1800000000,"unit":"NZD approximately","period":"programme baseline","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/it-communications-and-broadband/digital-connectivity-programmes/broadband-and-mobile-programmes"}
  ],
  "resilience_notes": [
    "Capacity diversity is not the same as geographic diversity: several systems can share landing regions, terrestrial corridors, operators or overseas hubs.",
    "Route resilience should be assessed end-to-end, including beach manholes, landing stations, backhaul, data-centre interconnection, power, repair arrangements and contracted capacity.",
    "The Ministry of Transport maintains cable protection areas where anchoring and most fishing are prohibited to reduce accidental damage."
  ]
}