Telstra brings Perth-Sydney Aura Network route into service

Telstra has put the Perth-Sydney route of its Aura Network into operation, connecting Western Australia with the eastern states over a high-capacity fibre link. The company expects demand from AI, cloud services and other data-intensive applications. Telstra describes the route as carrying large volumes of data between Western Australia, the eastern states and international markets.

IT Boltwise reported that Steven Worrall, Telstra's digital infrastructure head, said the connection creates added conditions for the next phase of growth in the region. According to Telstra's account, Western Australia already has strong industries in mining, defence and professional and technical services.

A study by Oxford Economics, commissioned by Telstra, attempts to quantify the potential effect. In its accelerated scenario, the study has Western Australia's digital economy growing sharply between FY2025 and FY2040. It also estimates a possible contribution to Western Australia's gross regional product and to employment by FY2040 from the already committed Perth-Sydney and Perth-Adelaide routes. If a Darwin-Perth link were also built, those estimates would rise.

The outlet framed the build as part of Telstra's push to position its infrastructure business as a platform for AI and cloud use, beyond mobile and traditional carrier services. It said the Perth-Sydney route is a concrete step against which the benefit of Aura can be measured in day-to-day operation, whether or not further routes follow.