Google Azores: 10MW Nuvem & Sol Subsea Cable Landing Hub
Status: Under Construction (April 2026) | Location: Tecnoparque da Lagoa, São Miguel, Azores
Project Overview
As of April 2026, construction is progressing rapidly on Google’s first strategic mid-Atlantic hub, a landmark infrastructure project that underscores the company’s long-term investment in global connectivity and cloud computing. Positioned within the Tecnoparque technology hub in the Azores, this advanced facility is designed to serve as a dual-purpose installation, functioning both as a high-capacity subsea cable landing station and a localized data center supporting Google Cloud services. The site will anchor two major transatlantic cable systems Nuvem subsea cable system and Sol subsea cable system which together significantly enhance digital connectivity between North America and Europe. By establishing the first direct fiber optic link between the United States and the Azores, the project dramatically reduces latency, increases bandwidth capacity, and introduces critical route diversity beyond traditional North Atlantic pathways. This not only improves the resilience and reliability of global internet infrastructure but also strengthens the Azores’ position as a strategic digital crossroads. Fully privately funded, the development is expected to stimulate regional economic growth, attract further technological investment, and create skilled employment opportunities, while reinforcing Google’s broader vision of building a more distributed, efficient, and secure global network.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Google Azores: 10MW Nuvem & Sol Subsea Cable Landing Hub |
| Location | Tecnoparque da Lagoa, São Miguel, Azores |
| Status | Under Construction (April 2026) |
| Commissioning | Expected Ready for Service: Late 2026 / Q1 2027 |
| Total IT Load | 10 MW |
| Total Capacity | 15,000 sqm facility; 384 Tbps (Nuvem System Capacity) |
| Tier Level | Tier III (Hyperscale Global Standard) |
| Project Type | Tier III (Hyperscale Global Standard) |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Lagoa |
| Population | ~23,000 (municipality estimate) |
| Urban Agglomeration | ~450,000 (part of the Algarve urban/tourism region) |
| City GDP | ~€1.2–1.5 billion |
| Per Capita Income | ~€20,000–€24,000 annually |
| City Tier | Tier 3 (small city with strong tourism-driven economy) |
| Key Strengths | Major tourism hub in the Algarve region |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Sailfish Infrastructure Unipessoal LDA |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | Regional Government of the Azores / MDEC Portugal. |
| Construction Contractor | Local specialized EPC partners; ~20 high-tech permanent roles. |
| MEP Engineering | $N+1$ redundancy for CLS critical systems; Modular power units. |
| Network Connectivity | Direct landing for Nuvem (16 fiber pairs) and Sol systems. |
| Power Infrastructure | 10 MW dedicated capacity; Integrated with São Miguel grid. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
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| Power Capacity | 10 MW |
| UPS Redundancy | $N+1$ |
| Cooling System | Precision Air Cooling (Optimized for Azorean climate). |
| Connectivity | Strategic transatlantic gateway connecting US, Bermuda, and Europe. |
| PUE Target | < 1.30 |
| Energy Mix | Integrated with Azorean renewable energy (Geothermal/Wind). |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
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| Announcement | September 25, 2023 |
| Construction Start | 2024 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Late 2026 |
| Full Buildout | Q1 2027 |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
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| Total Investment | Undisclosed (Part of multi-billion Atlantic investment). |
| Funding | 100% Private (Google Corporate Capital). |