Subsea cable

Chile faces U.S.-China geopolitical pressure over a proposed undersea cable. The U.S. imposed visa restrictions on Chilean officials, citing national security concerns, which Chile’s president denied. Analysts see this as a warning to Chile’s incoming government about navigating China’s growing influence in Latin America and the importance of addressing geopolitical factors for future digital hub aspirations. China criticized the U.S. actions, deeming them a violation of Chilean sovereignty.

Amazon is building its first wholly-owned subsea fiber-optic cable, Fastnet, connecting Maryland to Ireland. This initiative aims to bolster infrastructure for cloud computing and AI, addressing increasing demands for bandwidth, low latency, and cost-effectiveness. Fastnet will have a capacity exceeding 320 Tbps and is projected to be operational by 2028. This strategic move provides Amazon with greater control over its network, enhances resilience, and reduces reliance on third-party providers, reflecting a broader industry trend of tech giants investing in subsea cables.