Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced Fastnet, a new state-of-the-art transatlantic subsea fibre optic cable system connecting Maryland, U.S., and County Cork, Ireland. When operational in 2028, Fastnet will add vital diversity for customers by building a new data pathway with unique landing points, keeping services 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).

Increasing resilience through system diversity

Fastnet is a dedicated transatlantic cable system designed with two strategic landing points that deliver critical route diversity away from traditional cable corridors.

This strategic placement strengthens the network in two ways: it provides backup routes if other cables encounter issues, and it creates a network design for growing demands in cloud computing, AI, and edge applications that use AWS services such as Amazon CloudFront and AWS Global Accelerator.

The Fastnet system incorporates advanced optical switching branching unit technology, engineered to accommodate future topology needs. This state-of-the-art unit is strategically positioned on the cable route, enabling seamless redirection of data to future landing points as network demands evolve. This scalable architecture is specifically designed to handle growing AI traffic loads, allowing customers to rapidly expand their data demands while the system adapts to accommodate future growth.

Fastnet is designed for long-term reliability and performance. The system combines robust cable armoring with additional layers of protective steel wires in nearshore areas to protect against natural and human activity.

With a design capacity exceeding 320 terabits per second (Tbps), Fastnet will integrate directly into AWS's comprehensive global network. To put this capacity in perspective, the system could transmit the entire digitized Library of Congress three times every second, or stream 12.5 million HD films simultaneously. This integration enables rapid data rerouting and multiple layers of redundancy, helping ensure uninterrupted operations for customers.

Unlike the public internet, where each networking device makes routing decisions with limited network visibility, AWS's centralized, real-time traffic monitoring system has complete visibility into every link within the global network. This system implements millions of daily optimizations to ensure customer traffic always uses the most available and performant path, avoiding congestion and other issues before they impact applications.

Through Fastnet, customers benefit from secured long-term capacity and rapidly scalable bandwidth for their most critical operations, from generative AI and cloud-native applications to advanced research, transatlantic business connectivity, and international commerce. This investment in network diversity helps ensure customers can reliably access their cloud resources, with the flexibility to quickly expand capacity as their demands grow.

Driving community development

Infrastructure projects of this scale succeed when they're built in partnership with communities. From day one, AWS has worked closely with local organisations, nonprofits, and residents in both Maryland and County Cork to understand what success looks like for them.

As part of our commitment to these communities, we are establishing Community Benefit Funds for both Maryland's Eastern Shore and the local community in County Cork. We will work directly with stakeholders to identify and support initiatives that address each community's unique needs and priorities.

These community-driven funds could support a range of local initiatives, such as sustainability and environmental programs, health and wellbeing services, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education, future workforce development, economic development and leadership training, inclusion and diversity...