Key Takeaways
- Amazon is building its first wholly-owned subsea internet cable, Fastnet.
- The cable will connect the US to Ireland with a massive 320 Tbps capacity.
- It’s designed to support growing AWS cloud, AI, and edge computing demands.
- Fastnet is scheduled to become operational by 2028.
Amazon has announced Fastnet, its first fully-owned subsea fibre-optic cable project, marking a significant expansion of its global network infrastructure. The cable will stretch from Maryland, US, to County Cork, Ireland.
The primary goal is to meet the surging demand for Amazon Web Services (AWS), particularly for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and edge applications. Amazon claims the cable’s capacity will be immense, exceeding 320 terabits per second.
To put that into perspective, this capacity is equivalent to streaming 12.5 million high-definition movies at the same time.
Strategic Importance of Subsea Cables
Subsea cables form the backbone of global internet, carrying over 95% of international data. This includes everything from government communications and financial transactions to everyday email and video calls.
While Amazon has previously invested in consortium projects like Jako, Bifrost, and Havfrue, Fastnet represents its first solo venture into building this critical infrastructure.
Executive Insight and Project Timeline
In an interview with CNBC, Matt Rehder, Amazon Web Services Vice President of Core Networking, stated that Fastnet is expected to enhance Amazon’s network resilience.
The company has not disclosed the construction cost but confirmed the system is planned to be operational by 2028. This move aligns with investments from other tech giants like , , and , who are also bolstering their subsea cable infrastructure.
