Where global tech meets coastal lifestyle
In July 2025 more than 100 tech leaders, investors and digital innovators gathered at Altitude Nine, Sunshine Coast City Hall, for the Tech in Paradise Google Factor Sundowner Event.
This milestone event was a strategic industry gathering celebrating the Sunshine Coast’s transformation into a global digital hub, marked by the announcement of the Tabua subsea cable – Google’s second international broadband connection to Australia. Landing directly on the Sunshine Coast, the cable will link the region to Fiji and the United States.
When combined with NEXTDC’s $200 million data centre investment in Maroochydore, the Sunshine Coast is positioned as one of the world’s most resilient and future-ready locations for AI and digital services.
Why it matters for business and investors
Inside The Google Factor Sundowner Event
The event brought together a powerful mix of founders, executives, policy makers and investors. Against a backdrop of panoramic coastal views conversations flowed between first-time visitors and long-time locals, with ideas and opportunities exchanged as fast as business cards.
Guests of The Google Factor Sundowner Event exchanged ideas and insights about the Sunshine Coast’s role in the global digital landscape.
Why investors should pay attention
Download the Tech Edition Investment Prospectus to see why the Sunshine Coast is becoming Australia’s most connected region.
Here’s what the visionary speakers revealed and why it matters for every tech entrepreneur in Australia.
Anderson Silveira – Strategic Negotiator, Google Global Networking
Revealed the strategic reasoning behind choosing the Sunshine Coast, from geopolitical resilience to becoming a digital bridge in the South Pacific.
“Once you touch an on-ramp point of Google’s network, you are anywhere in the world you want to be.”
Alex Lynch – Manager of Public Policy & Government Relations, Google ANZ
Explained how Five Eyes alliances, regulatory certainty, and skilled talent make Australia attractive for sensitive data hosting.
“Australia’s trust, stability and security make it ideal for sovereign AI infrastructure.”
Craig Scroggie – CEO & MD, NEXTDC
Shared the “Scientific Calculator Moment” analogy, linking past tech breakthroughs to the new AI era and announced the $200 million data centre project in Maroochydore.
“Today, everybody could be a software engineer.”
Bradley Chesham – Founder & Director, Bundle of Rays
Demonstrated AI and VR training tools, live AR translation, and real-time medical training made possible by the Sunshine Coast’s low-latency future.
“I actually hate the word innovation – it’s about delivering real results.”
Missed out? Watch the full event coverage here.
Infrastructure powering a digital future
The Sunshine Coast already hosts Australia’s fastest east coast connection to Asia, and the Sunshine Coast business landscape has supported many local success stories like Typefi, Schoolzine, Optii and Bundle of Rays.
Until now these businesses have scaled with limited connectivity, but with the world-class digital infrastructure coming online the next wave of startups and global investors will have the tools to grow even faster.
By 2026, it will have two submarine cables doubling resilience, unlocking sovereign AI processing capacity and enabling real-time, global-scale services from the Sunshine Coast.
What’s next?
The Sunshine Coast is entering a new chapter of global digital growth. With cables, data centres and industry partnerships converging, the region offers a rare mix of infrastructure strength, investment opportunity and coastal lifestyle appeal.
The Google Factor Sundowner Event was just the start and 2026 promises to be a prosperous year with the cable landing and NEXTDC data centre launch.
Talk to Invest Sunshine Coast about how your business can plug into Australia’s leading tech location.
Want to know more?
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