Google has announced its latest venture, Nuvem, a TransAtlantic subsea cable system set to connect Portugal, Bermuda, and the United States.

The announcement was made on Monday, September 25, through a release on the company’s official blog site. Nuvem is expected to be ready for service in 2026 and will add capacity, increase reliability, and decrease latency for Google users and Google Cloud customers worldwide. Alongside Firmina and Equiano, it will create essential new data corridors connecting North America, South America, Europe, and Africa, strengthening the global intercontinental network and fostering connections between people and economies around the world.

Named after the Portuguese word for “cloud,” Nuvem aims to bolster network resiliency across the Atlantic to meet the growing demand for digital services and support the development of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure for the regions involved.

The subsea cable route of Nuvem, showcased in a visual representation, marks a major step towards strengthening international connections and diversifying routing options across the Atlantic Ocean.

Studies have consistently demonstrated the positive impacts of subsea cables on trade, investment, and productivity for countries involved. The Government of Bermuda, in particular, has been proactive in attracting investment in subsea cable infrastructure and creating a digital Atlantic hub. This includes enacting legislation to establish cable corridors and streamline permitting processes.

Nuvem will be the first direct cable connection between Bermuda and Europe.

Bermudan Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban said, “Bermuda has long been committed to the submarine cable market, and we welcome the Nuvem cable to our fast-growing digital Atlantic hub. Bermuda looks forward to working with Google on its cable project — and on building a broader partnership to leverage the benefits of the investment in digital infrastructure.”

David Hart, CEO of the Bermuda Business Development Agency, echoed a similar sentiment: “The Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) welcomes the announcement by Google that Bermuda will be the home of a new transatlantic cable on the path to becoming a digital hub of the Atlantic.”

“With around 95 per cent of the world’s communications being carried on submarine cable networks, Bermuda’s role as an international data-transit switch will provide increased network resiliency and redundancy to countries on both sides of the Atlantic for decades to come,” he continued.

Portugal, strategically located southwest of mainland Europe, has also become a vital hub for subsea cables. With plans to land in Portugal, Nuvem is the latest addition to Portugal’s subsea cable portfolio, which includes Equiano, the recently completed system that connects Portugal with Togo, Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, and St. Helena.

João Galamba, Portugal’s minister of infrastructure, emphasised the importance of this investment, stating: “Google’s investment incorporates our vision for Portugal in the telecom and data sectors: to establish our country as a thriving connectivity gateway for Europe, fostering robust connections with other continents.”

The United States, where Nuvem will land in South Carolina, will also benefit from the cable’s arrival. This move will further solidify South Carolina’s position as a growing technology centre, increasing connectivity and job diversification. Nuvem follows in the footsteps of Firmina, which landed in South Carolina earlier this year and will ultimately connect with Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.