AWS gears up to build a trans-Atlantic data cable to handle AI’s global surge

Amazon builds a bridge beneath the Atlantic

Amazon Web Services is constructing a massive trans-Atlantic subsea cable called Fastnet, linking Maryland in the U.S. with County Cork, Ireland.

Expected to go live in 2028, this underwater data highway will strengthen AWS’s network and meet the growing global demand for cloud and AI workloads. It’s a statement of intent. With Fastnet, AWS is moving from buying capacity to owning at least one major transatlantic subsea system.

The Fastnet project connects continents and ambitions

Fastnet will span about three thousand three hundred miles between Maryland and County Cork, creating a high-speed corridor for AI and cloud applications. AWS says Fastnet is intended to add route diversity and act as an alternative path if other cables are damaged or congested.

The project underscores Amazon’s long-term vision to future-proof its infrastructure, enabling faster, safer, and more reliable data transfers between North America and Europe.

A data superhighway built for AI

With a design capacity exceeding 320 terabits per second, AWS says Fastnet will be among the highest capacity transatlantic systems when it is built. That’s enough to stream 12.5 million HD films at once or transmit the Library of Congress three times per second.

The scale is staggering; it’s precisely what’s needed to handle the rising wave of AI-driven cloud computing.

Maryland becomes Amazon’s newest digital gateway

For the first time, Maryland will host a trans-Atlantic cable landing. Maryland officials said the landing is a milestone for the state and an important step toward building its role in digital infrastructure.

The project promises not just connectivity but also new jobs and infrastructure upgrades, turning the Eastern Shore into a key node in the global internet map.

Ireland strengthens its role as Europe’s data hub

Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin hailed Fastnet as a “vote of confidence” in the nation’s digital economy. The country already hosts major AWS and Microsoft data centers, and this new connection further cements its status as Europe’s cloud capital.

For Ireland, Fastnet is not just a cable but a cornerstone for the next wave of AI and cloud expansion.

Why this cable matters for everyone online

Approximately 99% of global internet traffic travels through undersea cables, such as the Fastnet cable. These hidden lifelines keep the world connected, from video calls to financial transactions.

When one fails, entire regions can lose access to essential services. By adding another path across the Atlantic, Amazon reduces the risk of single-point outages and boosts the reliability of the global web ecosystem.

Amazon’s quest for infrastructure independence

Unlike past partnerships, Fastnet is Amazon’s first wholly owned transatlantic subsea cable. That independence gives AWS direct control over performance, maintenance, and upgrades.

It’s a strategic shift away from shared networks and toward self-reliance that helps Amazon manage costs, increase security, and ensure seamless service for its fast-growing AI customer base.

Engineering an oceanic masterpiece

Laying a cable thousands of miles under the sea isn’t easy. The Fastnet line will be buried about 1.5 meters deep, protected by armored steel layers to prevent damage from ships, fishing gear, or natural activity.

Engineers must carefully study the sea floor’s topology to ensure a safe path from Maryland’s coast to Ireland’s rugged shores.

Building for security and resilience

Amazon is investing heavily in both physical and digital protection. AWS said traffic on Fastnet will be protected by encryption in transit, built-in route redundancy, and increased armor and burial in nearshore sections.

These precautions aim to prevent incidents like those seen in 2024, when undersea cables were intentionally cut in the Red Sea. With Fastnet, AWS is adding a layer of defense to the global data network.

A network built to heal itself

AWS says Fastnet will integrate with its global network and optical switching technology to enable rapid rerouting and automated traffic optimization.

Modern cloud networks increasingly rely on automation to detect and fix issues before users even notice. Fastnet extends this self-healing approach to a vital transatlantic route, improving resilience, efficiency, and the overall reliability of data flow between continents.

Lessons learned from recent AWS outages

Fastnet arrives after a widely reported AWS outage in October 2025 that highlighted how concentrated cloud infrastructure can cause cascaded disruptions. AWS says the system adds more route diversity and resilience.

While Fastnet isn’t directly tied to that event, it symbolizes Amazon’s commitment to ensuring no single failure can disrupt its global operations again.

Fastnet marks a new era of cloud leadership

By investing in Fastnet, Amazon signals that the next phase of cloud computing isn’t happening in the sky; it’s happening under the sea.

This project demonstrates how infrastructure, innovation, and AI are converging into a single, interconnected system. The ocean may be vast, but for AWS, it’s the next frontier in bringing the world’s data closer together.

Learn how a recent AWS outage exposed the challenges of our connected world, as the AWS outage caused major disruptions for work apps like Zoom and Slack.

What this means for the future of AI

When Fastnet goes live in 2028, it won’t just connect two continents; it will connect the future of technology itself.

From real-time AI collaboration to instant data processing, this cable could become the unseen backbone of the next digital revolution. It’s the infrastructure behind innovations, a silent force powering the age of intelligence.

See how a major undersea cable issue recently brought parts of the internet to a halt, in a Microsoft outage that disrupted millions after a series of undersea cable cuts.

What do you think about AWS setting up to add more undersea internet cables for the betterment of AI surge and other platforms? Please share your thoughts and drop a comment.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.