Google’s Nuvem Subsea Cable Bridges Portugal and the United States Across 7,000 km

On Tuesday morning, the launch ceremony for Google’s Nuvem transatlantic submarine cable system was held at Lisbon’s Oceanarium. As Minister Delegate for State Reform Gonçalo Matias noted in his remarks, the initiative aims to link North America and Europe via a new digital corridor that spans the Atlantic.

With roughly 95 % of global data transmitted via submarine cables, the minister highlighted that Portugal is positioning itself as a key participant in a venture that will become the nation’s first direct link to the United States. He raised questions about the nature of Nuvem, its objectives, and Portugal’s role in its development.

A New Submarine Cable System

Google first disclosed the project in 2023 (source in Portuguese), describing it as a new transatlantic submarine cable system that will connect Portugal, Bermuda, and the United States.

According to Google, the cable will land in the United States at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, while in Portugal the landing point will be Sines, with additional landing stations in Bermuda and the Azores.

Spanning roughly 7,000 km, the system comprises 16 fibre‑optic pairs, delivering a combined capacity of about 384 terabits per second, according to Reuters (source in Portuguese).

Nevertheless, the newspaper ECO notes (source in Portuguese) that the cable is not expected to enter service until next year.

Why These Cables Matter

Fibre‑optic submarine cables form the backbone of the global internet (source in Portuguese), handling roughly 99 % of international data traffic—including voice calls, messages, video streams, and payments. Without them, worldwide communications, financial transactions, and cloud services would cease to function, given that satellites lack the necessary bandwidth.

Unlike satellites, which are vulnerable to weather disturbances, these cables lie on the deep seabed, encased in layers of steel, copper, and polymer that protect them from pressure, currents, and even shark bites.

While submarine cables are not infallible, most faults stem from accidental human actions like fishing or anchoring, with natural hazards such as earthquakes, underwater landslides, and tsunamis also playing a role. Moreover, aging infrastructure and intricate regulatory frameworks can hinder efforts to preserve network resilience.

Google’s Objectives for Nuvem

When announcing the initiative, Google stated (source in Portuguese) that Nuvem aims to bolster Atlantic network resilience while satisfying rising demand for digital services.

The same source explained that the cable’s route is intended to diversify global data pathways and foster ICT infrastructure development across the involved regions.

Speaking at the project’s inauguration ceremony, Portuguese Minister Gonçalo Matias remarked that the system does more than simply add another Atlantic link; it creates alternative data‑transmission routes and lessens Europe’s reliance on a few congested corridors, thereby enhancing resilience.

Partners Behind Nuvem

The minister further noted that Nuvem is a collaborative effort involving Google and MEO, blending public ambition with private investment, and uniting Portugal and the United States—two nations historically linked by the same ocean that now transports our data.

MEO will also play a pivotal role. In a statement to the Lusa news agency (source in Portuguese), the Portuguese operator confirmed its participation in the Nuvem submarine cable system, positioning itself as an investor and national partner in one of the Atlantic’s most significant digital infrastructures.

MEO did not disclose the exact size of its investment, noting only that a direct Portugal‑US link would boost the country’s appeal for data‑center, cloud‑platform, and global technology‑services investment.

Nuvem Builds on Previous Google Atlantic Projects

This marks Google’s latest Atlantic venture; the company previously launched the Equiano cable in 2022, which linked Europe and Africa, as noted by Minister Gonçalo Matias.

As described by Google (source in Portuguese), Equiano originates in Western Europe, traces Africa’s western coastline, connects Portugal to South Africa, and enhances connectivity and cooperation between European and African nations.

Google subsequently deployed the Firmina cable, which stretches from the U.S. East Coast—again landing in South Carolina—to South America (Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay), without involving Portugal.

Looking ahead, Portugal anticipates hosting another Google‑backed initiative, dubbed Sol, potentially as early as next year, according to Minister Gonçalo Matias.

Google described Sol as a forthcoming transatlantic submarine cable linking the United States, Bermuda, the Azores, and Spain, noting that the project rounds out the company’s distinctive investment in Atlantic resilience (source in Portuguese).

Why Portugal Was Chosen

Minister Gonçalo Matias answered this question during his Tuesday address, emphasizing that Portugal’s geography—situated at Europe’s westernmost tip, nearest the Americas and a natural gateway to Africa—makes it an ideal hub for submarine cables, a point previously underscored by Google.

He also cited Portugal’s political stability, its pool of engineering and research talent, and its access to clean, competitively priced energy—resources that data centres require alongside robust connectivity.

Portugal ranks among Europe’s leaders in the energy transition; according to Pordata’s “Environmental Portrait of Portugal” (source in Portuguese), released for World Environment Day on 5 June 2024, over 95 % of the nation’s electricity comes from renewables—specifically 97.8 %—placing it among the top four EU states.

For Google (source in Portuguese), another decisive factor is Portugal’s commitment to strengthening its digital‑economy infrastructure.

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