A submarine cable linking Ireland and Iceland has been installed, with service set to begin in the first quarter of next year.
The 1,700km 'Iris' cable connects Galway Bay in Ireland to Thorlakshofn on the south coast of Iceland.
The cable is deployed and maintained by Farice, a telecoms company that is owned by the Icelandic government.
In Iceland, it will connect to Verne Global's data center campus near Keflavik.
At the cable landing ceremony on Ballyloughnane beach in Galway attended by Silicon Republic, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan said that Iris will provide “the essential factors needed by businesses” to compete on the global stage.
“It’s part of the new industrial revolution – one that combines high quality, digital infrastructure with renewable technology, infrastructure, and skills, helping to ensure that Ireland stays ahead of both the digital and climate curves and maintains its competitive advantage as a clean, innovative, secure and open economy.”
Galway will also be home to a landing station for the $1.15n pan-Arctic 'Far North Fiber' submarine cable, connecting Japan, the US, Canada, and Europe via Northwest Passage.
