Google has connected a new transatlantic subsea cable, Nuvem, linking Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Sines, Portugal through Bermuda and the Azores to expand U.S.–Europe data infrastructure.

The system features 16 fiber pairs with a design capacity of about 384 terabits per second, built to support rising cloud services and AI workloads across Europe and the United States.

Landing in Myrtle Beach occurred in May 2026 at a DC Blox-operated station, with full service anticipated in the second half of 2026.

The project is part of ongoing capital expenditure by major cloud providers to own critical data capacity, reduce reliance on third parties, and improve latency for AI applications.

Nuvem complements Portugal’s push to leverage renewable energy, with over 2.6 gigawatts under development to power digital infrastructure and attract AI infrastructure investments from major tech players.

A Lisbon Oceanarium ceremony underscored the cable’s strategic importance for economic development and digital security in Portugal.

Industry forecasts project strong growth in AI and cloud spending, underscoring the need for high-capacity subsea cables to support AI infrastructure, cloud services, and sovereign cloud initiatives.

Nuvem follows the end-of-life of the earlier Columbus III cable, reinforcing MEO’s role in critical submarine infrastructure.

Investors will monitor data transmission efficiency gains and the progress of renewable energy projects powering Portugal’s expanding data-center ecosystem, which affect long-term value and resilience.

The rollout aims to light all 16 cable pairs and integrate the route into Google’s global backbone, with live traffic expected before year-end 2026.

Google’s Nigel Bayliff emphasizes that global connectivity relies on solid partnerships and shared infrastructure, with the MEO collaboration expanding reach, reliability, and resilience of the Internet.

The collaboration seeks to ensure the link supports local ecosystems and remains a robust, open platform for innovation benefiting communities on both sides of the Atlantic.