Amazon gets green light to build landing station for transatlantic cable connecting Cork and US

Planning has been approved, subject to a series of conditions outlined by Cork Co Council

The Fastnet Cable will connect from West Cork to Maryland in the US.

Amazon has received planning approval to build a landing station in West Cork – part of the multimillion-euro 'Fastnet' transatlantic underwater fibre optic cable connecting Ireland and the US, which will be up and running in two years.

The cable landing station development will be built at Tullyneasky West, about 5kms from Clonakilty, and will see the construction of the cable landing station building, an ESB substation and switch room building, and external plant works including condenser compound, generators, and fuel tanks.

Two existing buildings on the site will be demolished as part of the construction. The approximate period for the demolition and construction of the proposed development is estimated at 12 months, with work likely to begin later this year.

The development is part of a larger project which includes the provision of new subsea fibre optic cable, landing at Owenahincha and then being brought to the site at Tunnyneasky. According to Amazon, the Fastnet system is designed to handle growing AI traffic loads and combines "robust cable armoring with additional layers of protective steel wires in nearshore areas to protect against natural and human activity".

The Amazon Fastnet Cable is reinforced to "protect against natural and human activity". Picture from Amazon website.

Planning for the cable station was approved subject to a series of conditions outlined by Cork Co Council, covering environmental, water, lighting issues, including monthly inspection of hydrocarbon interceptors used for drainage of wastewater runoff.

Last November, Amazon laid out its plans or the new transatlantic underwater fibre optic cable connecting Cork with Maryland on the US east coast, which will be operational by 2028.

The Fastnet system will keep data services running even if other undersea cables encounter issues, according to Amazon Web Services (AWS). The system will deliver data at speeds of more than 320 terabits per second — enough to stream 12.5m HD films at once.

The system will provide back-up routes if other cables encounter issues and creates a network design for cloud and AI applications.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said in November the cable will help Ireland become “a true gateway to Europe for submarine telecommunications cables. This investment will enhance our global connectivity, reinforce the resilience of critical digital infrastructure, and strengthen our economic competitiveness.

"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."

AWS's global infrastructure spans 38 regions around the world connected by over 9m kms of terrestrial and subsea fibre optic cabling. Amazon said the Fastnet service will keep running even if other undersea cables encounter issues. "This enhanced network resilience will improve global connectivity and meet rising demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI)," a company statement in November said.