Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced Fastnet, a new transatlantic subsea fiber-optic cable connecting Maryland, U.S., to County Cork, Ireland. Scheduled to go live in 2028, the system aims to boost global network resilience and support growing demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI).
With a design capacity of over 320 terabits per second (Tbps), Fastnet will integrate directly into AWS’s global network—enough capacity, the company says, to “stream 12.5 million HD films simultaneously.” The system provides an alternative route away from traditional cable corridors, ensuring service continuity even if other transatlantic links are disrupted.
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AWS said Fastnet features advanced optical switching technology, enabling flexible rerouting and scalability as data traffic increases. The system will help power workloads that rely on AWS services such as Amazon CloudFront and AWS Global Accelerator, while offering additional redundancy for critical global operations.
Amazon’s new Fastnet transatlantic subsea cable represents a vote of confidence in Ireland’s digital future,” 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.
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Maryland Governor Wes Moore called the project “an achievement bigger than broadband connectivity,” adding that it will “secure Maryland’s status as a global hub for innovation, job creation, and high-tech investment.”
AWS will also establish Community Benefit Funds in both Maryland and County Cork to support local programs in sustainability, education, and workforce development.
The project expands AWS’s global infrastructure, which now spans more than 9 million kilometers of terrestrial and subsea fiber—enough to reach from Earth to the Moon and back more than 11 times.
