Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced Fastnet, a new transatlantic subsea fiber optic cable system connecting Maryland, U.S., and County Cork, Ireland. Expected to be operational in 2028, the 320+ Tbps system adds a vital new route across the Atlantic, providing network diversity and reducing the risk of service disruption for cloud and AI workloads. Fastnet establishes a new data corridor between the AWS US East (Northern Virginia) and AWS Europe (Ireland) Regions, bypassing traditional cable clusters.
The system’s design integrates advanced optical branching unit technology that allows data to be rerouted to future landing points as capacity demands evolve. The 37 mm (1.5-inch) armored cable features multiple layers of protection—steel armor wires, copper conductors, polyethylene insulation, and nylon yarn—to resist damage from fishing, anchors, and natural seabed movement. Nearshore segments will be deeply trenched and double-armored for additional protection. With its 320+ Tbps capacity, Fastnet can stream over 12.5 million HD films simultaneously or transmit the entire digital Library of Congress three times per second.
AWS has also established Community Benefit Funds in both Maryland and County Cork to support local sustainability, education, and workforce initiatives. Taoiseach Micheál Martin called the project “a vote of confidence in Ireland’s digital future,” while Maryland Governor Wes Moore said the initiative “secures Maryland’s status as a global hub for innovation and high-tech investment.”
• 320+ Tbps capacity connecting Maryland and County Cork
• Unique route designed for AI and cloud workload resilience
• Double-armored and deeply trenched nearshore cable sections
• Optical switching and branching units for future expansion
• Community development funds in Ireland and Maryland
“Amazon’s new Fastnet transatlantic subsea 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,” said Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
🌐 Analysis: AWS is believed to be working with SubCom as the prime contractor for the Fastnet system, continuing a partnership that has supported several hyperscale subsea deployments. SubCom’s advanced repeater and branching technologies are well-suited for AWS’s requirement for scalable AI-era data transport. The use of robust armoring and deep seabed trenching near the Maryland and Cork landings reflects a growing hyperscaler focus on physical resiliency amid increased cable damage incidents in shallow waters. Fastnet complements other AWS transoceanic routes such as MAREA and Jupiter, reinforcing its private backbone for AI synchronization, cloud replication, and global network control.
