EXA to lay new transatlantic cable as AI gobbles capacity

Type: Development · Technology: Telecom · Country: United Kingdom · Announced: 2026-09-16

EXA Infrastructure announced plans to build the EXA Meridian submarine cable, a 6,552-kilometer route connecting New Jersey, USA, and Bristol, UK, featuring up to 24 fiber pairs and 520 terabits of capacity. The project, expected to be operational in the final quarter of 2029, is a direct response to the rapid capacity exhaustion on existing transatlantic routes, with demand driven by AI and data center traffic. EXA secured the necessary funding and pre-sold capacity to a wide range of customers, including hyperscalers and financial services firms, to derisk the investment. The company will partner with Xtera for cable manufacturing and must secure vessel slots for the build, as current laying vessels are booked years in advance.

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