AWS Launches Fastnet Transatlantic Cable

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced the launch of Fastnet, a new subsea cable system connecting the United States and Ireland. This infrastructure investment is designed to bolster AWS's global network, providing increased bandwidth and improved connectivity for its customers.

Technical Specifications and Capacity

The Fastnet cable system boasts a total capacity exceeding 320 terabits per second (Tbps). To put this in perspective, this bandwidth is sufficient to stream approximately 12.5 million high-definition films simultaneously. The implementation of such high-capacity infrastructure underscores the growing demand for data transfer and the increasing reliance on cloud-based services.

Global Network Expansion

Fastnet represents a significant addition to AWS's existing global fiber optic network. According to AWS, their network spans a distance equivalent to traveling from Earth to the Moon and back more than 11 times. The expansion of this network is crucial for maintaining low latency and high availability for AWS services worldwide.

Implications for AWS Customers

The deployment of Fastnet is expected to provide several benefits for AWS customers:

Improved Latency

Reduced latency for applications and services hosted in AWS regions connected by the cable.

Increased Bandwidth

Greater capacity for data transfer, supporting bandwidth-intensive workloads.

Enhanced Reliability

Redundancy and resilience through diverse network paths.

Strategic Significance

The investment in subsea cable infrastructure highlights the strategic importance of network ownership for cloud providers. By controlling its own network infrastructure, AWS can optimize performance, reduce reliance on third-party providers, and maintain a competitive edge in the cloud computing market.