Amazon Secures Approval for Cork Landing Station to Anchor Transatlantic Fastnet Cable

By Subseacables.net
April 22, 2026

Amazon has received planning approval to construct a key cable landing station in West Cork, marking a major step forward in its transatlantic subsea infrastructure ambitions. The development forms part of the company’s Fastnet cable system, which will directly connect Ireland to the United States, reinforcing global data connectivity and supporting rising demand driven by cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.

The approval, granted by Cork County Council, allows Amazon to build the facility at Tullyneasky West, approximately 5 km from Clonakilty. The project includes the construction of a dedicated landing station, an electrical substation, and associated infrastructure such as generators and fuel systems, alongside the demolition of two existing buildings on the site. Construction is expected to take around 12 months, with work likely to begin later this year.

The landing station will serve as the terrestrial endpoint for the Fastnet subsea cable, which will come ashore at Owenahincha beach before extending inland to the facility. Once completed, the system will link West Cork directly to Maryland on the U.S. East Coast, with a targeted operational date of 2028.

Amazon said the cable is designed to handle rapidly growing global data traffic and enhance network resilience. The system is expected to deliver speeds exceeding 320 terabits per second, while incorporating reinforced armoring in nearshore areas to protect against environmental and human risks.

In an earlier statement, the company highlighted the broader strategic value of the project, noting that “this enhanced network resilience will improve global connectivity and meet rising demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI).”

Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcomed the investment, emphasizing its national and international significance. He described the Fastnet cable as “a vote of confidence in Ireland’s digital future,” adding that it will help position the country as “a true gateway to Europe for submarine telecommunications cables” while strengthening critical infrastructure and economic competitiveness.

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