Google is making progress with the establishment of Nuvem, the new subsea cable installation using Bermuda as a hub, connecting Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Portugal.

Installation work for Nuvem has already commenced in the Atlantic, Google adviser Fiona Beck has told The Royal Gazette.

She said the project will lead to Bermuda's first transatlantic fibre optic route.

It promises new Bermudian jobs and new telecommunications services through local telecom providers.

Two cable branches to Bermuda will connect to a cable-landing station in St David’s.

Ms Beck said: “Like all international subsea cables, Nuvem involves a complex design, planning, permitting and building process. The project continues to progress well across all planned landing locations, including Bermuda.

“The installation of Nuvem in deep water has commenced in the Atlantic. Prior to this, the vessel [CS Decisive] did make a quick stop in Bermuda as a routine port call to support a crew change.

“We will be working through the permitting process for installation in Bermuda waters and that is part of our regular planning process.

“In Bermuda specifically, Google is focusing on making the appropriate arrangements for the cable-landing station in St David’s, on the area of land below the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre.

“We also continue to work closely with the Bermuda Regulatory Authority and are pleased with the interactions we have had across the government.”

The new cable improves Google’s digital highway and connects Bermuda directly to Europe, offering fresh capacity to local telecoms.

Initially, Google had planned to break ground on a 50,000 square foot landing station in St David’s by mid-2024, targeting a 2026 date for operational systems.

The Sub Marine Communications Cables legislation, passed in 2020, was key to the firm coming to the island, creating a process with a timeline and a fee structure that is well defined, making it appealing because of the certainties for a developer.

As many as 20 jobs could be created and Google has already said some will go to Bermudians.

When announced last September, Brian Quigley, VP, Global Network Infrastructure, Google Cloud, said Nuvem will improve network resiliency across the Atlantic, helping to meet growing demand for digital services.

He said: “The new cable path will add international route diversity and support the development of information and communications technology infrastructure for the continents and countries involved.”

Mr Quigley added: “Nuvem will add capacity, increase reliability and decrease latency for Google users and Google Cloud customers around the world.

“Alongside [other subsea telecommunications cables] Firmina and Equiano, it will create important new data corridors connecting North America, South America, Europe, and Africa — serving as the underwater roots that strengthen the intercontinental network lattice while bringing together people and economies around the world.”