Luxembourg, 12 January 2021 –Southern Cross Cables Limited (SCCL) will leverage SES
Networks’ satellite-enabled connectivity services to vastly improve communications between
Nukunonu of Tokelau, Kiritimati Island of Kiribati and the rest of the world as it upgrades the
undersea Southern Cross cable network, SES announced today.
The Southern Cross cable network, in use since 2000, is a key internet gateway for the Pacific
region. SCCL is laying a new cable, Southern Cross NEXT, to augment and ultimately replace
the existing Southern Cross cable network. This is part of SCCL’s plan to provide enhanced
network resilience and connectivity services to meet fast-growing market demand for internet
connectivity in the Pacific region.
SES’s O3b constellation of medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites will be used to connect remote
stations on the incoming Southern Cross NEXT cable network during its commissioning phase.
The satellite services provided will ensure that the undersea cable network gets a connectivity
boost right away, even as work to upgrade the existing Southern Cross systems and implement
Southern Cross NEXT are taking place.
SES Networks will provide a managed O3b network service to the remote stations, using a rapidlydeployed satellite terminal that delivers fibre-like performance with a low latency of less than
150ms round trip.
“We are glad to have a partner in SES Networks that is well-known in the region for providing
tried-and-tested, fibre-like, high-speed connectivity services through its O3b constellation. As we
work on laying the groundwork to improve connectivity, network resilience and network
performance with the incoming Southern Cross NEXT network, we needed a strong and robust
satellite network which could perform at the same level of low-latency, high-availability standards
as our incoming next-generation cable network. SES’s solution not only fit the bill, but actually far
exceeded our stated requirements,” said Laurie Miller, CEO of SCCL.
“This cooperation with Southern Cross is of utmost importance because it truly shows the
complementary nature of satellite and undersea cable networks. It is a great example of how the
entire network ecosystem can work together to ensure the Pacific region – with thousands of
islands and vast open seas in between – remain connected at all times,” said John Turnbull,
Director for Australia and the Pacific region of SES Networks. “The unparalleled reach of satellites
and its ability to be rapidly deployed can complement and augment large-scale terrestrial
infrastructure, delivering more connectivity resilience wherever you are, anytime you need it. With
demand for connectivity and data consumption growing at an accelerating pace across the
Pacific, we believe this hybrid network infrastructure is going to benefit businesses and
communities greatly.”