Bass Strait-1: A Submarine Cable Linking Tasmania and Mainland Australia
The Bass Strait-1 submarine cable is a telecommunications link connecting
Boat Harbour in northern Tasmania to
Sandy Point in Victoria, Australia. Spanning 241 kilometers across the Bass Strait, this cable is owned by Telstra and has been listed as in service since 1995 according to GeoCables records. It is part of a broader cable family that includes
Bass Strait-2, serving the same geographic corridor.
What makes Bass Strait-1 noteworthy is its role as one of the critical connections between Tasmania and mainland Australia, a region where submarine cables are essential to ensure reliable communication. However, public information about its technical specifications, such as design capacity, fiber pair count, and supplier details, remains scarce. This lack of disclosure limits the ability to fully assess its technological capabilities and operational details.
Quick facts
| Name | Bass Strait-1 |
| Length | 241 km |
| Ready for Service | 1995 (GeoCables database value; conflicting industry sources not identified) |
| Owners | Telstra |
| Status | In service |
| Design Capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber Pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing Points | Boat Harbour (Australia); Sandy Point (Australia) |
| Other Cables at Sandy Point | Bernacchi-1 |
| Same Family Systems | Bass Strait-2 |
Route
Bass Strait-1 connects the northern coast of Tasmania at Boat Harbour to Sandy Point in Victoria, crossing the Bass Strait, a body of water separating Tasmania from mainland Australia. Both landing points are strategically located to serve regional telecommunications needs. Sandy Point is also the landing site for Bernacchi-1, another submarine cable, which suggests that this area is a hub for connectivity between Tasmania and the Australian mainland.
Why it was built and what it carries
The cable was built to provide reliable telecommunications between Tasmania and the mainland, addressing the growing demand for connectivity in the region during the mid-1990s. While specific details about the types of traffic it carries are not disclosed, submarine cables of this nature typically support internet, voice, and data services. Its role is particularly significant in ensuring Tasmania's integration into Australia's broader telecommunications network.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate that Bass Strait-1 became ready for service in 1995. No conflicting dates from industry sources have been identified, so this year is considered reliable. The cable's construction aligns with a period of rapid expansion in submarine telecommunications infrastructure globally, driven by increasing data demands and technological advancements.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available data does not disclose the design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technology used in Bass Strait-1. Without operator documentation, it is impossible to determine whether the cable has been upgraded since its initial deployment or what its current operational capabilities are. This lack of transparency is common for older submarine cables, especially those built before the widespread adoption of high-capacity systems.
Latency: the physics
Theoretical one-way light propagation latency over the 241 km wet segment of Bass Strait-1 is approximately 1.2 milliseconds, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of 2.4 milliseconds. However, real-world latency is higher due to additional factors such as land-based fiber tails, terminal equipment, and routing complexities. No live measurements for this cable are currently available in GeoCables records.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If Bass Strait-1 were to experience a fault, redundancy in the corridor is provided by Bass Strait-2, which is part of the same cable family, and potentially by Bernacchi-1, which also lands at Sandy Point. Submarine cable repair logistics typically involve specialized cable ships equipped to locate and repair faults. Repairs can take weeks depending on the nature of the fault, weather conditions, and the availability of repair vessels.
Bottom line
- Bass Strait-1 connects Tasmania (Boat Harbour) to mainland Australia (Sandy Point) across 241 km of the Bass Strait.
- Owned by Telstra and listed as in service since 1995.
- Technical specifications such as design capacity, fiber pairs, and supplier are not publicly disclosed.
- Theoretical latency floor is approximately 2.4 ms RTT over the wet segment, but real-world latency is higher.
- Redundancy is provided by Bass Strait-2 and Bernacchi-1 in the same corridor.