LISBON: Google has activated a new transatlantic subsea internet cable connecting Portugal and the United States, marking another major investment in global digital infrastructure as demand for artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and high-speed data services continues to grow.
The technology giant announced on Tuesday that the new cable, known as Nuvem—the Portuguese word for “cloud” will strengthen data connectivity between North America and Europe while positioning Portugal as a strategic digital gateway connecting Europe, Africa and the Americas.
The project comes as global technology companies race to expand network capacity to support the rapid growth of AI applications, cloud services and data centres worldwide.
The Nuvem cable stretches approximately 7,000 kilometres (4,350 miles), linking Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Sines, a coastal city south of Lisbon. Along its route, the cable passes through Bermuda and the Azores, creating a new high-capacity communications corridor across the Atlantic Ocean.
According to Google, the cable system contains 16 fibre pairs capable of delivering a total design capacity of approximately 384 terabits per second, significantly increasing data transmission capabilities between the two continents.
The infrastructure is expected to improve internet reliability, reduce latency and support the growing demand generated by AI-powered applications, cloud platforms, streaming services and enterprise digital operations.
The launch reflects the growing need for robust digital infrastructure as artificial intelligence transforms industries worldwide.
Google said the Nuvem cable forms part of its broader investment strategy aimed at strengthening Europe’s digital economy while ensuring the continent has the infrastructure required for next-generation AI technologies.
Giorgia Abeltino, Google’s Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Google Cloud in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), described the project as part of a long-term vision to support digital transformation across Portugal and Europe.
She noted that expanding subsea cable infrastructure would play a critical role in supporting cloud services, innovation and economic growth.
Portuguese officials welcomed the project, describing it as another milestone in the country’s ambition to become a major international hub for digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence.
State Reform and Innovation Minister Gonçalo Matias said Portugal’s geographic location gives it a unique advantage as a bridge connecting three continents.
According to him, the country is positioning itself as the Atlantic gateway of Europe, linking Europe, Africa and the Americas through advanced communications infrastructure.
He added that investments such as Nuvem would strengthen Europe’s digital resilience while attracting more technology companies and AI investments.
Undersea fibre-optic cables remain the backbone of global internet communications, carrying more than 95 percent of international internet traffic.
Although invisible to most users, these cables transmit enormous volumes of information every second, supporting financial transactions, video streaming, cloud computing, online communication and AI services across continents.
The addition of Nuvem further expands Portugal’s growing network of international subsea connections.
The country is already home to Equiano, Google’s subsea cable linking Portugal with South Africa through several African nations, and EllaLink, which directly connects Portugal to Brazil.
The growing number of international cable connections is expected to accelerate Portugal’s ambitions of becoming a leading destination for AI-focused data centres.
Government officials believe the country’s Atlantic coastline, strategic location and abundant renewable energy resources make it an attractive investment destination for global technology firms.
Portugal currently has more than 2.6 gigawatts of renewable energy-powered data centre capacity under development, supported by hydroelectric, solar and wind energy.
One of the largest projects is the 1.2-gigawatt Start Campus data centre in Sines, which is expected to benefit from Microsoft’s expanding AI infrastructure investments.
Industry analysts say such facilities will require high-capacity international internet connections like Nuvem to support increasingly data-intensive AI workloads.
The completion of the Nuvem cable highlights the intensifying global competition among technology companies to build the infrastructure needed for the AI era.
As demand for generative AI, cloud computing and advanced digital services accelerates, companies including Google, Microsoft, Amazon and others continue investing billions of dollars in data centres, fibre networks and subsea cable systems to ensure faster, more reliable global connectivity.
The latest project further strengthens Google’s worldwide network while reinforcing Portugal’s emerging role as one of Europe’s key digital infrastructure hubs.
