• DXN will design, manufacture, deliver and install a modular cable landing station under an AU$1.2 million contract
  • Delivery is due in April 2027 for the planned ACS-1 system, which has not yet entered service

The fact

Australian modular data-centre specialist DXN has been commissioned by the Solomon Islands Submarine Cable Company to design, manufacture, deliver and install a cable landing station. The contract is worth approximately AU$1.2 million and covers the modular facility, power, cooling, fire protection and standby generation. Delivery is scheduled for April 2027.

The station is intended to support the Australia Connect South cable, or ACS-1, whose wider completion has been reported for late 2027. The route is linked to a branch of Google’s Bulikula system and is supported by the Australian government. The station will terminate the submarine optical system and connect it to domestic networks. DXN has secured the contract, but the station has not been delivered and ACS-1 has not begun commercial service.

The assessment

The contract gives DXN responsibility for the onshore facility that will connect ACS-1 to the Solomon Islands’ domestic network. Building the station as a modular unit allows more of the electrical, cooling and safety systems to be assembled and tested before shipment, reducing the amount of work required at the final site. Delivery will still depend on site preparation, transport, local installation and the availability of power and terrestrial fibre.

The station must then be integrated with the submarine cable and optical equipment before operators can carry traffic. A completed modular building would therefore mark one stage of the project rather than the start of service. For BTW readers, DXN’s April 2027 delivery date is an important coordination point for the wider cable programme. The station will become useful infrastructure only after the marine system, domestic backhaul, power and operating arrangements are ready together.

What to watch

Factory acceptance, shipment and installation will show whether DXN remains on schedule for April 2027. Site preparation, power testing and connection to domestic fibre must also be completed before integration with ACS-1. A confirmed ready-for-service date will provide the clearest indication that the landing station and cable are moving towards operation.