SX Tasman Express (SX-TX)

Overview

SX Tasman Express (SX-TX) is a submarine cable system connecting Australia and New Zealand across the Tasman Sea. Spanning 2,276 kilometres, it is a relatively short trans-Tasman link compared to other systems serving this corridor. The cable is planned for service in 2028 and is owned by Southern Cross Cable Network.

Route and Landings

In Australia, the cable lands at Clovelly, New South Wales. In New Zealand, the cable lands at Whenuapai. These two landing points define a direct trans-Tasman path between the eastern coast of Australia and the northern reaches of New Zealand's North Island.

Ownership and Operators

SX Tasman Express is owned by Southern Cross Cable Network, a longstanding operator in the trans-Tasman and trans-Pacific submarine cable space. Southern Cross Cable Network also operates the original Southern Cross Cable Network (SCCN) system, which has served the Australia–New Zealand corridor since 2000, as well as the more recent Southern Cross NEXT system.

Status and Timeline

SX Tasman Express is planned, with a ready-for-service date of 2028. The system is not yet operational.

Regional Context

The trans-Tasman corridor between Australia and New Zealand is served by several submarine cable systems. Existing cables include Hawaiki, ready for service in 2018, and Southern Cross NEXT, which entered service in 2022. Honomoana is also planned for 2026 readiness. SX Tasman Express, at 2,276 kilometres, is considerably shorter than all of these systems, which extend well beyond the Tasman crossing to reach additional destinations in the Pacific and elsewhere. At just over two thousand kilometres, SX Tasman Express appears designed specifically for a direct, dedicated Australia–New Zealand connection rather than a broader regional or intercontinental route.

Performance measurements recorded over the last 60 days, based on 41 ping tests through this cable, show an average round-trip latency of 83.3 milliseconds, with a best recorded result of 51.7 milliseconds.

Strategic Role

By providing a direct, relatively short path between Clovelly in New South Wales and Whenuapai in New Zealand, SX Tasman Express adds a dedicated connection between the two countries under the stewardship of an operator already present in this corridor. Its 2,276-kilometre length reflects the focused, point-to-point nature of the link, complementing longer systems that traverse the same corridor as part of wider Pacific or intercontinental routes.