Telstra's Intercity Fibre Network

Telstra’s Intercity Fibre Network is a cutting-edge, high-speed internet infrastructure project, designed to provide high-speed and high-capacity connectivity between large population centres in Australia.

Telstra InfraCo already has the largest fibre and duct network in Australia with 250,000km of fibre optic cable. The intercity fibre network will extend this even further.

The aim is to future-proof Australia’s connectivity needs for the next 20+ years. The more capacity the telcos build in the network, the more people can use it at once without the network becoming crowded and slowing down.

The network is currently being constructed across Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and the ACT, with detailed planning and design underway for additional routes, including Darwin to Adelaide, which will begin construction in 2025.

So far, more than 1,400km of fibre have been constructed, with plans to build an additional 165km in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and five more routes, including the significant Darwin to Adelaide connection.

Image credit: Telstra, 2024

Telstra’s new fibre network is designed to achieve speeds of up to 55 terabits per second per fibre pair, a significant upgrade from the existing network’s 8.8 terabits per second.

At 55 terabits per second, the new network will be capable of downloading 100 petabytes of data (equivalent to the size of Google’s search engine index) in just four hours, compared to the 25 hours it would take with the existing network.

Telstra’s intercity fibre network will have a broad impact across multiple industries, particularly big business and large users of data.

Some of the key sectors that are likely to benefit, include telecommunications companies, technology and cloud services, finance and banking, media and entertainment, healthcare, education and research, e-commerce and retail, transportation and logistics, and agriculture and rural development.

The network will also support government and public services in larger centres, including schools, hospitals, and service centres, for example.

No, Telstra’s Intercity Fibre Network is not designed to reach 100% of Australia. Instead, it focuses on connecting major cities and key regional areas with high data demand, such as the Pilbara mining region.

While it will significantly enhance connectivity across many parts of the country, especially in areas with large data requirements, it is not intended to provide coverage to every part of Australia. Other solutions and networks will continue to serve areas outside the reach of this specific fibre network.

The network cabling for Telstra’s Intercity Fibre Network may pass through or near private properties as it is being constructed.

If your property is affected, Telstra typically follows a process that includes:

• • Notification: You will be notified in advance if the construction work will impact your property.
  • Consultation: Telstra or its contractors will usually consult with you to discuss the planned work, including any potential disruptions or changes.
  • Access and Permissions: Telstra will seek the necessary permissions to access your property for construction. This might include signing an agreement or easement.
  • Restoration: If the construction causes any damage or disruption to your property, Telstra is responsible for restoring it to its original condition or compensating for any impacts.

If you have concerns or need more information, it’s advisable to contact Telstra directly through their customer service channels.

More information on Telstra’s Intercity Fibre Network is available via Telstra’s website.

If you are affected and can’t find someone to talk to about it, please reach out to us at the Regional Tech Hub and we can help find the right channel to contact.