Amazon begins consultation on transatlantic data cable

Developing a new subsea fibre optic cable landing at Owenahincha

A survey vessel off the Cork coast for Amazon's planned new transatlantic data cable.

Amazon has progressed its plan to build a new transatlantic underwater fibre optic cable connecting Ireland and the US.

The multimillion-euro cable connection is designed to handle growing AI traffic loads by the tech giant.

In recent days, Amazon has lodged a marine development consultation application with the planning commission, An Comisiún Pleanála.

In April, the company received planning permission for the cable landing station 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 a condenser compound, generators, and fuel tanks.

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 consultation lodged in recent days is a mandatory pre-application consultation under planning rules. Before anyone can apply for marine permission, they have to hold a Maritime Area Consent or foreshore licence, and consult with the comission to consult on issues like documentation, public notice requirements, and which bodies need to be told about the application. 

Amazon also lodged a Marine Flexibility Opinion case with the commission, seeking a formal opinion on which technical details can be left open and confirmed later, after permission is granted.

Amazon is calling the cable Fastnet, and it will link Cork with Maryland on the US east coast. Depending on planning approvals, the cable is expected to become operational in 2028. It's Amazon's first wholly owned subsea cable. Previously, the company has only bought capacity or co-invested in consortium cables. Once operational, it will deliver more than 320 Tbps of capacity via 16 fibre pairs, enough to stream roughly 12.5 million HD videos at once.

Amazon said Fastnet will strengthen its network, providing backup routes if other cables encounter issues and creating capacity for growing demands in cloud computing, AI, and applications that use Amazon Web Services.