AMAZON WEB SERVICES have announced that they will build a new “state-of-the-art” dedicated transatlantic subsea fiber optic cable system connecting Co Cork to Maryland in the US. 

AWS said the system, called Fastnet, will create alternative data pathways between the two locations and deliver “fast and reliable cloud and AI services across the Atlantic”. 

The cable system will have a capacity of 320 terabits per second, enough to stream 12.5 million HD films at the same time. 

“This enhanced network resilience will improve global connectivity and meet rising demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI),” Amazon said. 

Fastnet will be designed with two strategic landing points that deliver critical route diversity away from other cable corridors.

The cable will be operational in 2028. Amazon Amazon

This placement will strengthen the network by providing backup routes if other cables encounter issues, and creating a network design for growing demands in cloud computing, AI and services that use AWS services like Amazon CloudFront and AWS Global Accelerator.

The cable will be operational in 2028. No cost has been announced for the project. 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the cable “represents a vote of confidence in Ireland’s digital future, helping to enable the next wave of innovation in cloud computing and artificial intelligence”. 

“By linking County Cork to Maryland in the United States, Ireland will become a true gateway to Europe for submarine telecommunications cables,” he said.

“This investment will enhance our global connectivity, reinforce the resilience of critical digital infrastructure, and strengthen our economic competitiveness.”