EXA Infrastructure is planning to build the first transatlantic subsea cable in a decade to be developed by a single operator.
As a result, the 6,552km EXA Meridian cable will run between New Jersey in the US and Brean in the UK, with service expected to begin in 2029.
It will be the ninth transatlantic cable in EXA Infrastructure’s network, adding new capacity and alternative routes between North America and Europe.
EXA Meridian has been designed with 24 fibre pairs and will offer more than 500 Tbps of capacity. According to the company, the move targets customers including hyperscalers, neoclouds, financial institutions, governments and research organisations.
The project has reached Contract in Force (CIF) with subsea telecommunications specialist Xtera, which will be a key supplier to the project. Meanwhile, EXA Infrastructure will lead the overall delivery.
The cable will also form part of EXA Infrastructure’s existing network rather than operating on its own. A new landing station at Brean will connect EXA Meridian to terrestrial routes through to Slough and the company’s wider European portfolio.
EXA Infrastructure CEO, Jim Fagan, said: “Demand across the Atlantic is changing quickly. The largest customers are increasingly planning in spectrum and fibre pairs, and the capacity they will need towards the end of the decade has to be built now.
“With a Ready For Service (RFS) date set for 2029, EXA Meridian will be the only cable with sufficient capacity to satisfy these large-scale demands.
“We have consistently committed to investing to meet strong demand. That means understanding where the market is going, securing the capital to act early and having the experience to execute when the opportunity arrives.”
Fagan added: “By integrating EXA Meridian directly into infrastructure that we own and operate across Europe, we can give customers greater route choice, resilience and accountability. It demonstrates the discipline behind our investment strategy and our confidence in continuing to build as commercial demand requires.”
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