Google launches Nuvem transatlantic cable linking Portugal to the US

On 21 July 2026 Google announced the successful connection of its new Nuvem subsea cable at the Oceanário in Lisbon. The system runs about 7 000 km between Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Sines on Portugal’s southwest coast, with intermediate landing points in the Bermuda islands and the Azores. It comprises 16 fibre‑pair lines and a design capacity of roughly 384 terabits per second.

Google positions Nuvem as part of a broader strategy to secure bandwidth for its cloud and AI services and to bolster Europe’s digital‑infrastructure resilience. Portuguese State Reform and Innovation Minister Gonçalo Matias described the project as reinforcing Portugal’s role as an “Atlantic gateway” and a hub for data‑centres, AI and renewable‑energy‑powered computing. The cable joins two existing Google‑owned routes – Equiano (linking Portugal to South Africa) and EllaLink (connecting Sines to Brazil) – and is expected to enter service in 2027.

U.S. Ambassador John Arrigo highlighted the broader economic dimension, noting that the Nuvem connection could help bring up to $40 billion of American technology investment to Portugal by 2031, underscoring the partnership’s strategic importance for both nations.