Telstra has called for a major investment in physical cabling and technological expertise in Australia to support the expansion of data centres. The telecommunications giant highlighted the urgent need for improved infrastructure to meet rising demand for digital services.

The report from Telstra outlines the challenges faced by Australia’s current data centre landscape, including outdated cabling systems and a lack of skilled professionals. These issues are hindering the country’s ability to compete globally in the tech sector. The company estimates that billions of dollars will be required to modernize the infrastructure.

This call for investment comes amid a global shift toward cloud computing and digital transformation. Australia has been lagging behind in key areas such as high-speed internet connectivity and data storage capacity. Telstra’s report suggests that without significant upgrades, the country risks falling further behind in the digital economy. The need for better infrastructure is also linked to the growth of artificial intelligence and big data analytics, which require robust technical foundations.