Reports of an Amazon subsea cable in Co Cork first surfaced in January this year.

A new Amazon Web Services (AWS) transatlantic fibre optic cable system called Fastnet will connect Co Cork and Maryland, US. The cable system is expected to be operational from 2028.

Fastnet’s design capacity exceeds 320 terabits per second and is set to provide AWS customers with scalable capacity for use in AI, cloud, research and business among other use cases, the company claimed.

Amazon’s plans for a subsea telecommunications cable connecting Castlefreke, Co Cork, to a location at the US’ east coast – now revealed to be Fastnet – were first discovered through filings that surfaced earlier this year.

The approved proposal requested a three-year licence starting in 2025 to conduct geophysical survey and site investigations for an area spanning 16,880 sq km off the coast of Co Cork.

“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.

“By linking County Cork to Maryland in the United States, Ireland will 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,” he added.

AWS’ total global fibre optic network spans the total distance from Earth to the moon and back more than 11 times, the company claimed.

The cloud services giant also announced that it will be establishing a ‘community benefits fund’ for Cork, as well as one in Maryland, with plans to support local initiatives such as sustainability and environmental programmes, health and wellbeing services, as well as educational and workforce development programmes.

“Building Maryland’s first-ever subsea fibre cable is an achievement bigger than broadband connectivity – it’s about securing Maryland’s status as a global hub for innovation, job creation and high-tech investment,” said Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland.

“To grow our economy, we need to prioritise industries of the future. That is exactly what this project helps us deliver, in partnership with leaders with deep local ties and robust commitment to community engagement.”

Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.