Every day, we lay more kilometres of fibre optic cable as part of our new intercity fibre network. This project is massive in scale, complexity, and importance. It spans the entire length and breadth of Australia, with over 2,000 km of fibre already in the ground and much more to come. This achievement is the result of the hard work of dozens of people involved in planning, design, stakeholder engagement, construction, and cutting-edge technology deployment.

To experience what it’s like for the crews on the ground, Telstra CEO Vicki Brady recently toured project sites in South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. She wanted to assess construction progress and meet some of the people involved in turning the vision into reality.

The Eyre Peninsula offers a good snapshot of the challenges faced by the project teams. One highlight of the tour was a visit to a remote beach where the Spencer Gulf underwater fibre crossing will make landfall. This is just one of many wet-to-dry crossings along the Perth to Sydney coastal route. In addition to the beach landing site, Vicki also inspected a regenerator hut—facilities located at strategic points along the route that play a crucial role in powering the network.

These locations demonstrate the planning and logistical challenges involved in building a reliable fibre optic network across diverse and often difficult terrain.

"The scale of our intercity fibre project is immense," Vicki said. "On the Eyre Peninsula, we’re celebrating the milestone of laying 2,000 km of high-capacity fibre. While we still have 12,000 km to go to connect every capital city to our network, we are making great progress on this important investment in our nation's future."

The Human Factor

The tour also highlighted the human element behind this monumental project. During her visit to a live construction site, Vicki was able to see the day-to-day operations firsthand. It also gave her a glimpse into the dedication of the teams involved. Given the remote locations, the teams often have to live away from their families for extended periods. They operate in areas without many modern conveniences, setting up camp villages with communal kitchens and laundry facilities as they progress along the route. They may need to bring in water and food, sleep in caravans, and, in some instances, even sleep in swags.

As the project continues, we remain committed to delivering on our promise of building a world-class fibre network to benefit generations to come. The intercity fibre network will provide reliable, high-speed connectivity for the next two decades, creating opportunities for economic growth, innovation, and social development.

The tour not only showcased the physical progress of the Intercity Fibre Network but also underscored the transformative impact it will have on communities and businesses across Australia. At its heart, this project is about people. It is being built by our people, for the Australian people, both now and in the future. This was also an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of these individuals who are bringing this once-in-a-generation project to life.