Basslink: Submarine Cable Connecting Tasmania and Mainland Australia
The Basslink submarine cable is a telecommunications link connecting Tasmania to mainland Australia, with landing points at
Four Mile Bluff in Tasmania and
McGaurans Beach in Victoria. Spanning 298 kilometers, the cable is owned and operated by Basslink Telecoms and is listed as in service. While primarily known for its role in electricity transmission, the Basslink system also incorporates a fiber-optic cable for data communication purposes.
What sets Basslink apart is the limited public disclosure regarding its telecommunications specifications. Key details such as its design capacity, number of fiber pairs, supplier, and specific technology remain unknown. This lack of transparency makes it challenging to assess its full capabilities or compare it to other cables serving the region. Additionally, while GeoCables records its ready-for-service year as 2005, this date may warrant further scrutiny against other industry sources.
Quick facts
| Name | Basslink |
| Length | 298 km |
| Ready-for-service year | 2005 (GeoCables database; may conflict with other sources) |
| Owners | Basslink Telecoms |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Four Mile Bluff (Tasmania, Australia); McGaurans Beach (Victoria, Australia) |
| Other cables at Four Mile Bluff | Bernacchi-1 |
| Computed latency (one-way) | ≈ 1.5 ms |
| Computed latency (round-trip) | ≈ 2.9 ms |
🗺 Show Basslink on the interactive cable map
Route
The Basslink cable spans the Bass Strait, a body of water separating Tasmania from mainland Australia. Its landing points are Four Mile Bluff in Tasmania and McGaurans Beach in Victoria. Four Mile Bluff is also home to another submarine cable, Bernacchi-1, which serves as an alternative route for telecommunications between Tasmania and the mainland. The Bass Strait corridor is a critical connection for Tasmania, given its geographic isolation.
Why it was built and what it carries
Basslink was originally constructed as a hybrid system for electricity transmission and telecommunications. The fiber-optic component of the cable enables data communication between Tasmania and mainland Australia. This dual-purpose design reflects the need for both energy and data connectivity across the Bass Strait. While the electricity transmission aspect of Basslink is well-documented, its telecommunications capacity and utilization are less transparent, leaving questions about its role in supporting internet and other data services in the region.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records the ready-for-service year of Basslink as 2005. However, discrepancies in historical documentation could arise due to overlapping timelines for the cable's electricity and telecommunications components. Some industry sources may suggest alternative dates for the fiber-optic system's activation, possibly due to delays in commissioning or phased implementation. Without operator confirmation, the precise timeline remains uncertain.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available data does not disclose Basslink's design capacity, number of fiber pairs, supplier, or specific technology. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to evaluate the cable's performance or compare it to other regional systems. Attributing these specifications without operator documentation would be speculative. It is also unclear whether the cable has undergone upgrades since its initial deployment.
Latency: the physics
The computed one-way light propagation latency over 298 kilometers of fiber is approximately 1.5 milliseconds, with a theoretical round-trip time (RTT) of 2.9 milliseconds for the wet segment. However, real-world latency measurements would be higher due to additional factors such as land-based tails, terminal equipment, and routing inefficiencies. GeoCables does not currently have live latency measurements for Basslink, and any claims about actual performance would require independent testing.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
In the event of a failure, Tasmania's connectivity to mainland Australia would rely on alternative submarine cables, such as Bernacchi-1, which also lands at Four Mile Bluff. Repairing submarine cables typically involves deploying specialized vessels equipped with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to locate and fix faults. The Bass Strait's challenging weather conditions could complicate repair efforts, potentially prolonging downtime.
Bottom line
- Basslink spans 298 kilometers, connecting Tasmania to mainland Australia via the Bass Strait.
- Its ready-for-service year is recorded as 2005, though alternative dates may exist in industry sources.
- Key specifications like design capacity, fiber pairs, and supplier are not publicly disclosed.
- Computed latency for the wet segment is approximately 1.5 ms one-way, 2.9 ms round-trip.
- Redundancy is provided by other cables in the corridor, notably Bernacchi-1.