AWS Will Launch New Transpacific Subsea Cable in 2029
The Sta'O'Nuk system will connect the U.S. and Japan to boost network resilience and capacity.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Data Centers
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AWS announced the development of the Sta'O'Nuk subsea cable, a project designed to link the U.S. and Japan by 2029. The new system will provide 420 Tbps of additional capacity to support AI training and real-time data needs.
Why it matters
The project addresses significant concentration risks within existing transpacific infrastructure. By diversifying landing points, AWS aims to ensure more resilient paths for the low-latency connectivity required by modern AI and machine learning workloads.
The Sta'O'Nuk system utilizes 20 fiber pairs to deliver 420 Tbps of total capacity. Development timelines for such subsea projects have shifted to 5-7 years, an increase from the 3-year timelines previously standard in the industry.
The players
AWS
Amazon Web Services is a global cloud computing platform that provides a wide range of infrastructure services to businesses and governments.
The details
The cable will land at Hogan's Corner, Washington, intentionally avoiding traditional hubs like California and Oregon to create geographically separated network paths. AWS plans to employ continuous monitoring, diverse routing, and multilayered encryption to protect the system from physical damage, such as the disruptions seen off the Ivory Coast in 2024.
Timeline
Four subsea cables were damaged off the Ivory Coast in 2024.
AWS published a blog regarding the Sta'O'Nuk project in September 2026.
The Sta'O'Nuk system is expected to become operational in 2029.
The Tech Race
The move toward decentralized landing points follows the pattern set by the 2024 subsea cable damage events off the Ivory Coast, which exposed the vulnerability of concentrated network hubs. This architecture represents a shift away from traditional landing sites in California and Oregon toward more dispersed, resilient network paths.
Users and developers can expect more predictable network performance and lower latency for AI-driven applications once the cable is operational. The infrastructure improvements aim to reduce the risk of service disruptions, ensuring more consistent access to cloud-based tools.
The takeaway
Subsea infrastructure is evolving to prioritize resilience over simple throughput as AI demands grow. Companies and organizations should prepare for longer lead times when planning large-scale international network expansions.
Further reading
For more on the infrastructure supporting modern cloud demands, visit our Data Centers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RCR Wireless News.
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