Tabua

Overview

Tabua is a trans-Pacific submarine cable system scheduled to be ready for service in 2026. Owned entirely by Google, the cable connects Australia, Fiji, and the United States, spanning one of the most critical intercontinental corridors in the Pacific Ocean. With six landing points across three countries, Tabua is designed to enhance connectivity between these regions while providing a dedicated, privately controlled infrastructure for Google's global network. The cable's route includes two landing points each in Australia, Fiji, and the United States, offering geographic diversity and routing flexibility.

Tabua's deployment reflects the growing demand for high-capacity, low-latency connections across the Pacific, a region central to global telecommunications and data traffic. By linking Australia and the United States with intermediate landings in Fiji, Tabua is expected to play a strategic role in supporting economic and technological development in the communities it serves.

Route and Landings

Tabua’s route spans thousands of kilometers across the Pacific Ocean, connecting three distinct regions. In Australia, the cable lands at Maroochydore in Queensland and Sydney in New South Wales. Maroochydore, located on the Sunshine Coast, provides an entry point to one of Australia's fastest-growing regions, while Sydney serves as a critical hub for international connectivity and data exchange.

In Fiji, Tabua lands at Natadola and Suva. Natadola, known for its coastal tourism, offers a strategic landing point for expanding connectivity to Fiji's western region. Suva, the capital city, is the political and economic center of Fiji, making it an essential location for telecommunications infrastructure. These dual landings strengthen Fiji's position as a regional connectivity hub in the Pacific.

In the United States, the cable comes ashore at Kapolei on Oahu, Hawaii, and Los Angeles, California. Kapolei provides mid-Pacific connectivity, linking Hawaii’s growing data infrastructure to global networks. Los Angeles, one of the largest data exchange hubs in the world, ensures direct access to the continental United States and its extensive telecommunications infrastructure.

Ownership and History

Tabua is fully owned by Google, a company that has increasingly invested in submarine cable systems to support its global operations. Google’s ownership of Tabua reflects its strategy of building private infrastructure to meet the growing demand for reliable, high-speed data connectivity. As part of its portfolio, Google has developed multiple cable systems across different ocean basins, including the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.

While Tabua is scheduled for service in 2026, it joins a competitive corridor already served by established systems such as the Southern Cross Cable Network and newer projects like Bulikula. These systems have historically connected Australia, Fiji, and the United States, but Tabua’s private ownership and dual landings in each country distinguish it as a unique addition to the region's telecommunications landscape.

Google’s decision to include Fiji as an intermediate landing point highlights the strategic importance of the Pacific island nation in regional connectivity. By providing direct links to Fiji, Tabua is expected to support the country’s digital infrastructure and economic growth.

What Our Measurements Show

Our live monitoring of Tabua’s corridors indicates promising performance metrics for the cable system. Across the 17 measured corridors, the best round-trip time (RTT) recorded is 17 milliseconds, while the average RTT stands at 141 milliseconds. These measurements suggest that Tabua is designed to offer both high-speed and reliable connectivity across its route.

The cable’s geographic diversity, with dual landings in Australia, Fiji, and the United States, contributes to its ability to optimize traffic routing and minimize latency. The inclusion of Kapolei as a mid-Pacific landing point further enhances its performance by reducing latency for traffic between Australia and the continental United States.

Tabua’s measurements underscore its potential to serve as a critical infrastructure for intercontinental data exchange. Once operational, the cable is expected to deliver consistent and efficient connectivity, supporting the growing demand for data-intensive applications and services across the Pacific region.