The IRIS submarine cable was complete with services most likely being available in the first quarter of 2023. This submarine cable developed by SubCom, a reliable fiber optic cable manufacturer, and operated by Farice, Iceland’s main telecommunications service provider, is a high-speed system connecting Thorlakshofn, Iceland to Galway Bay, Ireland.
Galway Bay: Submarine Landing
Farice had begun the IRIS project back in 2019, when there was only two Iceland to Europe undersea cables, and both were connected to Northern Europe. However, there was still an Icelandic need for higher speeds and capacity, which sparked this project to begin. In September 2020, Galway was selected as the landing site for the undersea cable project connecting Iceland to the rest of Europe.
Galway was also selected for the Far North Fiber Cable with an expected launch date of 2025. Solidifying it as an attractive port for telecom infrastructure assets. On the opposing end, the development of the telecommunications infrastructure assets was also underway.
Icelandic Data Center
In 2021, the Icelandic Data Center Firm, Verne Global, had announced the $50 million expansion of multiple data center campuses. Verne Global saw the demand for data storage and processing and began developing the infrastructure needed for the IRIS Submarine Cable.
The submarine cable and landing boom has continued driven by a variety of factors. One of these factors derives from the world becoming intricately more connected with the increasing implementation of cloud communications. This, in conjunction with the rise in OTTs [over-the-top applications], and overall data demand from gaming to streaming to daily needs, the data and submarine cable industry has been in more demand than ever.
Knowing where submarine cables and landings are located can benefit organizations in a variety of ways. Contact GeoTel to access this pertinent data today.
