AWS Plans 420 Tbps Sta’O’Nuk Subsea Cable Linking the US and Japan by 2029
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Amazon Web Services will build a 420 Tbps subsea cable connecting the United States and Japan, scheduled to begin commercial operations in 2029.
The system, named Sta’O’Nuk, will run 20 fiber pairs across the Pacific Ocean, linking a new landing station in Washington state to an undisclosed site in Japan. It represents the first international subsea cable to land in Washington state in nearly three decades.
Landing station and tribal partnership
AWS partnered with Toptana Technologies to develop the American cable landing station and backhaul network in Ocean Shores, Washington. Founded in 2022 by the Quinault Indian Nation, Toptana is the only Indigenous-owned cable landing station operator on the US West Coast.
Construction has begun on the Ocean Shores facility, designed to support up to four subsea cable systems. Assured Communications serves as program manager and operational service provider for the station, while the Quinault Indian Nation granted AWS permission to use the name Sta’O’Nuk, which translates to “lightning serpent” in the Quinault language.
Washington state last saw international subsea arrivals in 1999, when Pacific Crossing-1 landed at Harbour Pointe and Alaska United East connected in Lynnwood. Toptana previously outlined a 17,700-square-foot, 1 MW station footprint when it first announced site plans in 2022.
Transpacific cloud capacity
Hyperscale cloud providers have shifted from purchasing capacity on shared consortium routes to financing and constructing dedicated private pipes across Asia-Pacific corridors. Direct cable ownership provides AWS with lower latency, predictable operating costs, and dedicated bandwidth between its data center regions in North America and East Asia without reliance on third-party commercial carriers.
The Japanese landing location and local terminal partners remain unannounced as construction advances toward the 2029 target.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the primary benefit for AWS in funding and building its own subsea cable system?
What is the primary benefit for AWS in funding and building its own subsea cable system?
Direct ownership provides AWS with lower latency, predictable operating costs, and dedicated bandwidth between its data centre regions. This avoids reliance on third-party commercial carriers for trans-Pacific capacity.
Q.How long has it been since an international subsea cable last landed in Washington state?
How long has it been since an international subsea cable last landed in Washington state?
The Sta’O’Nuk system marks the first international subsea cable to land in Washington state in nearly three decades. The last arrivals were in 1999, involving Pacific Crossing-1 and Alaska United East.
Q.Which entity is responsible for the development of the American cable landing station and backhaul network?
Which entity is responsible for the development of the American cable landing station and backhaul network?
Toptana Technologies, founded by the Quinault Indian Nation, partnered with AWS to develop the American cable landing station. Toptana is the only Indigenous-owned cable landing station operator on the US West Coast.
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