Google intends to expand its undersea cable network by installing new infrastructure on Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.
According to a Reuters report, the tech giant is targeting the remote outpost to strengthen its connectivity footprint across the Indo-Pacific region.
The project, known as Australia Connect, aims to link Darwin to Singapore through the new Bosun cable. This new line will integrate with the existing Tabua cable, which currently connects the United States, Australia, and Fiji.
Protecting the red crab migration
While the primary focus is digital connectivity, Google faces a unique biological hurdle on the island. Christmas Island is home to an annual migration of approximately 120 million red crabs.
Between October and December, these crustaceans traverse roads, beaches, and forests to reach the ocean for breeding. During peak migration, densities can reach 100 crabs per square meter in certain areas.
Local authorities and park officials currently implement road closures and specialized crab tunnels to facilitate this movement. Google has committed to implementing environmental safeguards to ensure the new infrastructure does not disrupt the species' migratory path.
Google currently manages over 100,000 kilometers of undersea cable globally. The company views this specific expansion as a strategic move for both technological reach and regional geopolitics.