DXN wins AU$1.2m contract for Solomon Islands cable landing station supporting Google's Bulikula system

Australian data center firm DXN has been awarded a contract by the Solomon Islands Submarine Cable Company (SISCC) to design, manufacture, deliver, and install a cable landing station (CLS) for the Adamasia Cable System 1 (ACS-1) submarine cable project. The deal, valued at approximately AU$1.2 million (US$840,000), marks another milestone in DXN's growing portfolio of critical telecommunications infrastructure work across the Pacific region.

The modular CLS will be fully integrated with critical power systems, cooling, fire detection and suppression, standby generation, and supporting infrastructure. Delivery of the facility is scheduled for April 2027, ahead of the ACS-1 cable's expected completion in late 2027. The ACS-1 is an Australian Government-funded submarine cable program aimed at enhancing regional connectivity for the Solomon Islands, and represents a strategic investment in the nation's digital future.

Shalini Lagrutta, managing director of DXN, emphasized the significance of the win. "We are delighted to have been selected by SISCC for this strategically important telecommunications infrastructure project. The award reinforces DXN's recognised capability in delivering modular cable landing infrastructure and critical telecommunications facilities throughout Australia and the Pacific," she said. Lagrutta also noted that the program is primarily financed by the Australian government and integrates with the Pacific Connect plan, further elevating its importance within the region's digital infrastructure landscape. "DXN's involvement signals its growing credibility as a partner of choice for high-stakes, government-backed projects where commercial, sovereign, and security interests converge," she added.

The ACS-1 cable, stretching 1,015 kilometers, will connect the Solomon Islands directly to Google's larger Bulikula regional network, which is part of the Pacific Connect initiative linking Guam to Fiji. The project was jointly announced in November 2025 by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manele and Senator the Hon. Nita Green, Australia's Minister for Pacific Island Affairs. Funding comes through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), with a grant and loan package totaling approximately AU$104 million (US$72.8 million), including a AU$71.9 million (US$50.33 million) grant and a AU$31.9 million (US$22.33 million) loan. An additional AU$1.8 million (US$1.26 million) contribution from AIFFP's Pacific Climate Financing Partnership will support off-grid electricity generation and storage capacity to ensure the infrastructure's climate resilience.

This will be the Solomon Islands' second international submarine telecommunications cable, following the Coral Sea Cable System (CS²), and will be owned and operated by SISCC. The Australian government has also invested in other AIFFP-backed projects in the Solomon Islands, including the Tulagi Shipyard Rehabilitation, the Tina River Hydropower Transmission System, and five off-grid renewable energy projects under the Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership. Minister Green highlighted the broader regional impact, stating, "Australia's investment in the Adamasia Cable, and other infrastructure across the Pacific, reflects a shared commitment to support local communities, drive national development, and strengthen regional connectivity."

The Bulikula cable itself spans 21,600 kilometers and is supplied by SubCom, with landing points in Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii. DXN, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Sydney, designs, builds, owns, and operates data center infrastructure, including modular data centers, edge data centers, cable landing stations, built-to-order facilities, and colocation data centers. Its current portfolio includes two data centers in Darwin and Tasmania.

DXN has previously been commissioned for similar cable landing station projects, including a AU$1 million (US$690,000) contract from the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) to support the La Vasa subsea cable, which is expected to become operational by Q3 2026 and is also connected to Google's Bulikula system. The company recently reported AU$4.3 million (US$3.01 million) in Q4 FY26 revenue, driven by modular revenue of approximately AU$2.6 million (US$1.82 million), data center operations revenue of AU$500,000 (US$350,000), and DCaaS revenue of AU$100,000 (US$70,000).

The ACS-1 project underscores the growing importance of subsea cable connectivity in the Pacific, a region where digital infrastructure is increasingly seen as a catalyst for economic development and sovereign resilience. For DXN, the contract strengthens its position as a key player in delivering mission-critical telecommunications infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly for government-backed initiatives where reliability and security are paramount.