Google Announces TalayLink Subsea Cable for Asia Pacific
Google has unveiled plans for TalayLink, a new subsea cable system that will connect Australia and Thailand to enhance digital connectivity across the Asia Pacific region. The infrastructure project represents a significant expansion of internet capacity and network resilience in Southeast Asia.
TalayLink derives its name from the Thai word for sea or ocean. The cable will extend the interlink cable previously announced under the Australia Connect initiative. The system will establish a new route to Thailand through the Indian Ocean, positioned west of the Sunda Strait. This routing differs from many existing subsea cables in the region and aims to provide a more diverse connectivity path.
The new cable infrastructure will integrate with planned data centers and a cloud region in Thailand that Google announced previously. The company is investing one billion US dollars in Thailand’s digital infrastructure, including these data center facilities.
Two new connectivity hubs will support the TalayLink system. The first hub will be located in Mandurah, Western Australia, providing a diverse landing point from Perth where most existing subsea cables currently terminate. The second hub will be established in South Thailand, an area already recognized as a crossroads for subsea cable systems. Google is partnering with AIS, a local colocation provider, to develop the South Thailand facility.
The connectivity hubs will offer cable switching, content caching, and colocation capabilities. These features are designed to accelerate the delivery of digital services and artificial intelligence applications across the region. The Thailand Board of Investment has confirmed its support for the project as part of the country’s digital economy development strategy.
International Gateway Company, a subsidiary of ALT Telecom, will assist with landing the submarine cable in Thailand. The company operates a nationwide network and international cable gateway infrastructure.
When operational, TalayLink and its associated connectivity hubs will enhance network resilience across Australia, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The infrastructure will connect with previously announced connectivity hubs in the Maldives and Christmas Island, creating pathways across the Indian Ocean to the Middle East.
The project aligns with Western Australia’s digital transformation roadmap and the Royal Thai Government’s economic strategy centered on artificial intelligence and digital inclusion. The new subsea cable system is expected to support economic growth and improve internet reliability across multiple countries in the Asia Pacific region.
