Exa and euNetworks separately file for new subsea cables linking Dublin to UK

European fiber infrastructure providers Exa and euNetworks have each filed separately with Irish regulators to build new subsea cable systems connecting Ireland to the United Kingdom, signaling continued investment in high-capacity connectivity between two of Europe's most data-intensive markets.

The two filings, submitted to the Irish Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), come as demand for robust international connectivity grows alongside the expansion of cloud computing and artificial intelligence workloads across the region. Both companies already operate multiple fiber routes between the UK and Ireland, and the new projects underscore the strategic importance of these links for data center interconnectivity.

Exa has filed for the Eliza North subsea fiber-optic telecommunications cable. Although full technical specifications were not disclosed, a map included in the application suggests the route would run from the Robswalls/Portmarnock area of County Dublin eastward across the Irish Sea to the west coast of the UK. The application was originally submitted in May but had not been previously reported. A spokesperson for Exa declined to provide additional details, noting that the cable is in the very early stages of development and that no concrete decisions have been made regarding route, capacity, or timelines.

Exa's existing infrastructure in the corridor includes the CeltixConnect-1 (CC-1) cable, launched in 2012, which links Dublin to Holyhead in Wales. The company also operates the older Exa North and South system, launched in 2001, which includes a branch connecting Dublin to Southport in England. These assets have served as critical conduits for data traffic between the two countries for over a decade.

In a parallel move, euNetworks has separately filed with MARA to deploy the Eliza South subsea cable system. According to the company's application, submitted last month, the cable will run from Dublin Port to Anglesey in Wales. Further details have not yet been shared, and euNetworks has been contacted for additional information and comment.

euNetworks builds and invests in city and long-haul fiber networks designed to connect key European data centers and data hubs. The infrastructure provider owns and operates fiber networks across 18 cities, with a long-haul network spanning approximately 45,000 route kilometers (27,962 miles) across 17 countries, including the UK, Ireland, and mainland Europe. The company also holds capacity on subsea cables linking the British Isles to the continent. Its existing Rockabill system, launched in 2019, connects Portrane outside Dublin to Southport in the UK.

Exa is also a participant in the Havhingsten/CeltixConnect-2 (CC-2) consortium, which brought a new cable into service in 2022 linking Lough Shinny outside Dublin to Blackpool in the UK via the Isle of Man. Bulk and Meta are also members of that consortium, reflecting the growing involvement of major technology companies in subsea infrastructure projects.

The parallel filings for the Eliza North and Eliza South systems highlight the intensifying competition and investment in subsea connectivity serving the Irish Sea corridor. As data center capacity continues to expand in Dublin and other European hubs, reliable, low-latency links to the UK remain essential for network resilience, cloud service delivery, and international data exchange. The new cables, if approved and deployed, would further diversify the region's connectivity options and help meet the rising bandwidth demands of the digital economy.