According to Silicon Republic, Amazon Web Services is building a new transatlantic fiber optic cable system called Fastnet that will connect County Cork in Ireland to Maryland in the United States. The cable system is expected to be operational from 2028 and features a design capacity exceeding 320 terabits per second. Amazon first revealed plans for this project through filings that surfaced earlier this year, requesting a three-year license starting in 2025 to conduct geophysical surveys across 16,880 square kilometers off the Cork coast. The company also announced it will establish community benefits funds in both Cork and Maryland to support local sustainability, health, education, and workforce development programs.
Why this infrastructure investment matters
Here’s the thing about subsea cables – they’re the invisible workhorses of our digital world. While we talk about cloud computing and AI as abstract concepts, they all run on physical infrastructure that needs massive bandwidth. Amazon’s move to build Fastnet isn’t just about adding another cable – it’s about future-proofing their cloud dominance. With 320 terabits per second, that’s enough capacity to handle the insane data demands of AI training and inference workloads that are only going to grow.
And let’s talk about the timing. 2028 might seem far off, but for subsea cable projects? That’s actually pretty aggressive. These things require years of planning, environmental assessments, and actual physical laying across the ocean floor. The fact that Amazon is pushing forward with this tells you how seriously they’re taking the bandwidth crunch that’s coming with AI expansion.
The strategic positioning play
Look at what both governments are saying about this. Ireland’s Taoiseach called it making Ireland “a true gateway to Europe for submarine telecommunications cables.” Maryland’s governor talked about securing the state’s status as “a global hub for innovation.” This isn’t just corporate PR – it’s recognition that physical digital infrastructure creates economic gravity.
For Ireland, this continues their transformation into Europe’s data center hub. For Maryland? They’re getting their first-ever subsea cable connection. That’s a big deal when you consider most Atlantic cables land in Virginia or New York. Amazon is basically creating new geographic hubs rather than just following existing ones.
The community benefits angle
Now here’s an interesting twist – the community benefits funds. Amazon’s promising to support local sustainability, health, and education programs in both locations. Is this genuine corporate citizenship or strategic relationship-building with host communities? Probably both. Subsea cable landing sites can be controversial locally, so building goodwill makes practical sense.
But it also reflects how tech giants are increasingly expected to deliver broader value beyond just their core business. When you’re building critical infrastructure that will last decades, you need local partnerships that last just as long.
The bigger picture for AWS customers
So what does this mean if you’re an AWS customer? Basically, more reliable and lower-latency connections between Europe and North America. For companies running global operations, that’s huge. For AI startups dealing with massive model transfers? Even bigger.
Amazon mentioned their global fiber network already spans the distance to the Moon and back 11 times. That’s mind-boggling when you think about it. But here’s the real question – as AI workloads explode, will even 320 terabits be enough? Probably not, which is why we’re seeing this arms race in digital infrastructure heating up.
