Amitie

Overview

Amitie is a transatlantic submarine cable system that connects France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With a total length of approximately 6,792 kilometers, it spans the North Atlantic Ocean, one of the busiest and most critical corridors for global telecommunications. The cable provides high-capacity connectivity between three key landing points, playing a vital role in supporting data traffic between Europe and North America. Amitie became operational in 2023 and is among the newest systems serving this important route.

The cable is designed to meet the growing demand for low-latency, high-bandwidth communication services across the Atlantic. It facilitates data exchange for a wide range of applications, including cloud computing, social media, enterprise services, and international communications. Its deployment reflects the ongoing need for resilient and efficient infrastructure to support the digital economy.

Route and Landings

Amitie connects three landing points, strategically chosen to optimize connectivity and serve major regional hubs. In France, the cable lands at Le Porge, a coastal town near Bordeaux. This location integrates Amitie into France's broader telecommunications network, enabling efficient distribution of data traffic across Continental Europe. Le Porge’s proximity to major urban centers like Bordeaux enhances its strategic importance.

In the United Kingdom, the cable comes ashore at Bude, Cornwall. Bude is a well-established landing site for submarine cables, owing to its geographic position on the southwest coast of England. It serves as a gateway for data traffic between the UK and other parts of Europe. The choice of Bude reinforces its role as a critical hub in the global submarine cable network.

On the United States side, Amitie lands at Lynn, Massachusetts, located on the northeastern seaboard. This landing point connects directly into the dense telecommunications infrastructure of the northeastern United States, including major data centers and network hubs in the Boston area. Lynn serves as a key entry point for transatlantic data traffic into North America.

Ownership and History

Amitie is owned by a consortium of five entities: EXA Infrastructure, Meta, Microsoft, Orange, and Vodafone. This diverse ownership reflects a mix of hyperscale technology companies and established telecommunications operators. Meta and Microsoft are among the largest global technology firms, with significant investments in cloud computing and digital services. Orange, as France's leading telecommunications operator, and Vodafone, a multinational carrier with a strong European presence, bring extensive expertise in network operations. EXA Infrastructure specializes in wholesale connectivity, serving enterprise and carrier customers.

The cable was completed and entered service in 2023, marking its official readiness to handle transatlantic data traffic. Its deployment underscores the ongoing collaboration between technology and telecommunications sectors to meet the increasing demand for reliable and high-capacity international connectivity. Amitie is part of a broader trend of upgrading and expanding subsea cable systems to support the growing global digital economy.

What Our Measurements Show

Our monitoring of Amitie reveals strong performance metrics, consistent with its modern design and direct transatlantic route. Over 132 measured corridors, the cable has achieved a best round-trip time (RTT) of 18 milliseconds and an average RTT of 37 milliseconds. These figures highlight its efficiency in delivering low-latency connectivity between Europe and North America.

The North Atlantic crossing between Lynn, Massachusetts, and the European landing points at Le Porge and Bude benefits from Amitie’s relatively compact span compared to other transoceanic systems. This shorter distance contributes to its competitive latency performance. The cable’s robust design ensures reliable data transmission, supporting a wide range of applications from cloud services to real-time communications. Amitie’s performance metrics affirm its role as a critical link in the global telecommunications infrastructure.