Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to build a new submarine cable, Sta’O’Nuk, linking Washington state in the US and Japan. Scheduled to enter service in 2029, the cable will have 20 fiber pairs and a total capacity of 420 Tbps, and is expected to become the first international submarine cable to land in Washington state.
AWS has announced a new submarine cable system, Sta’O’Nuk, linking the US and Japan, with service targeted to begin in 2029. The system is expected to have 20 fiber pairs and a total capacity of approximately 420 Tbps, and is set to become the first international submarine cable to land in Washington state in approximately 30 years.
The company has partnered with Toptana Technologies, which will provide the Washington-side cable landing station (CLS) and backhaul network services. Toptana is building a new CLS in Ocean Shores, Washington, designed to accommodate up to 4 submarine cables.
The Japanese landing point has not been disclosed, although public images suggest Tokyo. In response to an inquiry from DCD, the company said the site would provide geographical diversity from existing routes.
Toptana was established in 2022 and is owned by the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN). QIN is expected to become the only Indigenous-owned cable landing station and backhaul operator on the West Coast, with the project intended to create long-term economic opportunities for QIN and expand regional infrastructure. Assured Communications will serve as the project’s strategic partner and provide operational support.