Cable & Wireless Optus have switched on what is claimed to be the single largest IT global network in Australia, piggybacking off Southern Cross' cable network, which went live today.
"In one single hop, users can tap into the network that carries 30 percent of traffic around the world," a Cable & Wireless Optus spokesperson said.
With the turning on of the Southern Cross cable, C&W Optus' global.net will enable customers to send data without using different protocols, linking Australian traffic to global networks at bandwidth speeds.
"This will enable direct connection with the world's major business centres instead of traversing a number of networks, as is the case with the Australian network operators today," a company statement said.
The cable link will offer high-speed access to global networks for Application Service Providers (ASPs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Content providers, and multinational corporations.
The take-up of broadband access in Australia will enable users to make use of new technologies such as video and audio streaming, according to a company spokesperson.
Global.net will operate at increased speeds of up to 9.6 gigabits. The network will also offer access to "more than 2000 ISPs in the United States and customers in more than 80 countries," the statement said.
