SA Power Networks is constructing a new underwater fibre optic cable connection to improve the management of electricity supply for the western part of the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island (KI), as well as enabling the transformation of the telecommunication sector for KI households and businesses.
The $7 million SA Power Networks project will utilise the undersea fibre cores built within the 15-kilometre continuous undersea 33,000 Volt power cable installed in 2018 to connect Kangaroo Island with Cape Jervis on the southern Fleurieu Peninsula.
The fibre optic cable will help improve monitoring and management of the island’s electricity supply.
SA Power Networks Head of Corporate Affairs, Paul Roberts, said installation of the cable is now underway and should be completed by July 2024.
“Currently KI relies on a microwave link and it just does not have the speeds and capacity offered by our fibre optic cable, which is potentially capable of delivering second to none high data speeds and remote cloud storage data services,” Paul Roberts said.
SA Power Networks is currently negotiating with various telecommunications businesses offering them the opportunity to utilise the fibre optic cable to deliver improved services for their customers on Kangaroo Island.
