Oman Australia Cable (OAC)

Overview

Oman Australia Cable (OAC) is a 11000 km intercontinental submarine cable system that was ready for service in 2022. The OAC connects the Middle East with Oceania, providing an important link between these regions.

Route and Landings

Australia: Perth, WA; Salalah, Oman

British Indian Ocean Territory: Diego Garcia

Cocos (Keeling) Islands: West Island

Oman: Barka; Salalah

Ownership and Operators

The cable is operated by SUBCO.

Status and Timeline

The Oman Australia Cable (OAC) was ready for service in 2022. The status of the cable is unknown at this time.

Strategic Context

The OAC serves to enhance communication and data transfer capabilities across a vast geographical area, connecting Perth in Australia, Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory, West Island in Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Barka and Salalah in Oman. This cable provides an important link between these regions.

The Middle East and Australia are significant markets for telecommunications services due to their growing economies and increasing demand for high-speed internet and data transfer capabilities. Similarly, Oman, particularly Barka and Salalah, is strategically positioned in the Middle East, acting as a transit hub for traffic between Asia and Europe. The British Indian Ocean Territory, home to Diego Garcia, also holds strategic importance due to its location, which can serve as an important relay point or data hub. Cocos (Keeling) Islands, with West Island as one of its landing points, is known for its unique geopolitical status and the potential it offers for secure communications. Overall, the OAC contributes to the robustness of the global submarine cable network by providing a reliable connection between these diverse regions, supporting both local and international data traffic.