‘Sol’ cable to boost global cloud and AI capacity, solidifying Bermuda’s role in digital infrastructure
Bermuda is set to play a key role in global digital connectivity once again, as Google recently announced a second subsea cable that will transit through the island.
Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday, Home Affairs Minister Alexa Lightbourne described the development as a “tremendous accomplishment” and credited it to “good governance, good policy, and good legislation.”
The new transatlantic cable, named Sol. the Spanish word for “sun”, will link Florida to Spain, passing through Bermuda and the Azores. It will be the only direct in-service fibre-optic connection between Florida and Europe.
This follows Google’s first cable, Nuvem, announced in 2023, which established Bermuda’s role in global connectivity by linking South Carolina to Portugal via the island.
Minister Lightbourne said: “This second cable confirms that Bermuda is a deliberate choice based on our regulatory clarity, technical preparedness, and geographical relevance. Google’s further investment in our shores through the establishment of Sol signals that our jurisdiction is one of trust, regulatory certainty, and sound governance.”
Google’s subsidiary in Bermuda, Sea Grass Services Limited, plans to build a landing station at Southside, St. David’s, pending final approval from the Department of Planning. Minister Lightbourne said today that the station will be capable of housing up to four subsea fibre-optic cables.
Last month, Google held a Town Hall meeting in St. David’s, where it reaffirmed its commitment to training local talent, diversifying Bermuda’s economy, and supporting climate-positive innovation.
The tech giant says the Sol cable will be manufactured in the United States and, once operational, will strengthen capacity and reliability for its global network of 42 Google Cloud regions. The company says it will help meet rising demand for Google Cloud and AI services across the U.S., Europe, and beyond.
Minister Lightbourne said the project represents more than just infrastructure.
“It is an evolution and investment in our future—a future where Bermuda moves beyond being known simply for insurance or tourism and entrenches its role in the digital economy,” explained Minister Lightbourne. “This economy powers financial systems, health networks, AI services, digital finance, and international research. The new cable, alongside Nuvem, will carry cloud traffic, provide expanded capacity for our local providers, and deliver AI models across the Atlantic.”
You can read Minister Lightbourne’s full statement below.
