Case study: NextDC

Establishing the Northern Territory as a regional digital hub

Australia’s leading data centre service provider, NEXTDC Limited, has cemented its presence in the Territory, investing A$80 million to develop the D1 Darwin Data Centre.

Background

D1 Darwin is a flagship project in NEXTDC’s broader plan to establish state-of-the-art data centres in the Territory.

This critical infrastructure project is a game-changer for the region’s digital capabilities.

This connectivity enables legacy industries such as mining and resources, along with the defence sector to achieve real-time responsiveness for operational and mission-critical needs, fully unlocking the potential of emerging technologies.

Opportunity

The Northern Territory recognised a need for reliable data centres to strengthen the growing network of subsea and terrestrial digital cables, drive domestic and international trade and investment, and establish the region as a strategic gateway to Asia and beyond.

Approach

The Northern Territory Government launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the development and operation of a commercial data centre in Darwin.

Solution

Australian-owned and operated, NEXTDC has been designing, building, and running Australia’s largest network of premium cloud-enabled data centres for 12 years.

The company was selected as the successful proponent with the Government providing strategic support to align the project with broader digital economy goals.

Outcomes

D1 Darwin was successfully switched on in August 2024, utilising both domestic and subsea cables into Darwin to provide data storage for Australian and international customers.

The data centre offers national and international connectivity through the Vocus Darwin-Jakarta-Singapore subsea cable project.

Expanding partnerships with digital cable networks is just the beginning, further strengthening the Northern Territory’s role as a regional digital hub.

This is already taking shape with Google’s Bosun Australia Connect initiative, which was announced in 2024 to enhance Indo-Pacific connectivity.

The Bosun Subsea Cable, which will link Darwin to Christmas Island and onwards to Singapore, is a collaborative initiative involving Google, NEXTDC, SUBCO, and Vocus.

At-a-glance