Minister On Google Subsea Cable Landings

Bermuda marked the successful landing of two Google subsea cables at an official cable landing ceremony in St David’s this week, Minister of Home Affairs Alexa Lightbourne said.

Speaking in the House of Assembly today [June 12] the Minister said, “Nuvem, derived from the Portuguese word for “cloud,” will connect South Carolina to Portugal. Sol, meaning “sun” in Spanish, will connect Florida to Spain. Google has confirmed that, when complete, Sol will be the only in-service fibre optic cable connecting Florida to Europe. All of this will happen through the cable landing station currently under construction in St David’s.

“Google did not choose Bermuda by chance. This week’s developments result from deliberate policy choices, regulatory clarity, and a steadfast commitment to positioning Bermuda as a trusted and strategic partner in global connectivity.

“For the people of Bermuda, these benefits are practical. Two cables interconnecting on our island mean that when a cable is damaged anywhere in the Atlantic, traffic can be rerouted, and our families, schools, hospitals, and businesses stay connected. The international evidence on connectivity is settled. The International Telecommunication Union found in 2020 that a 10 per cent increase in fixed broadband penetration raises GDP by an average of 0.77 per cent. Bermuda’s gains will come through resilience, through skills, and through the new industries this infrastructure invites.”

The Minister’s full statement follows below:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update this Honourable House and the people of Bermuda on a significant milestone in our journey to secure Bermuda’s place in the global digital economy.

On Wednesday of this week, Bermuda marked the successful landing of two Google subsea cables, Nuvem and Sol, and the hosting of an official cable landing ceremony in St David’s. These are events that signify the continued confidence of one of the world’s most consequential technology companies in our jurisdiction.

Nuvem, derived from the Portuguese word for “cloud,” will connect South Carolina to Portugal. Sol, meaning “sun” in Spanish, will connect Florida to Spain. Google has confirmed that, when complete, Sol will be the only in-service fibre optic cable connecting Florida to Europe. All of this will happen through the cable landing station currently under construction in St David’s.

Mr. Speaker, As I have previously stated in this Honourable House, Google did not choose Bermuda by chance. This week’s developments result from deliberate policy choices, regulatory clarity, and a steadfast commitment to positioning Bermuda as a trusted and strategic partner in global connectivity.

The landing of any submarine cable represents a significant national milestone. These systems are the arteries of the modern digital economy, and Google’s presence in Bermuda reflects both confidence in our jurisdiction and the strength of our long-term vision, initiated with the enactment of the Submarine Communications Cables Act 2020. This legislation is a clear and deliberate step by this Government to position Bermuda as a key player in global connectivity. It established the Submarine Cable Protection Zone and a clear approval pathway, with applications determined within 60 to 75 business days because this Government completed the environmental groundwork in advance. That is regulatory clarity in practice.

Mr. Speaker, This milestone also delivers on the Bermuda Economic Development Strategy 2023 to 2027, announced by the Ministry of Economy and Labour in June 2023, which names subsea cables among the sectors best suited for foreign investment in Bermuda. The strategy named the sector. The legislation opened the door. This week, the investment landed.

Mr. Speaker, The significance of these developments extends far beyond infrastructure. What has transpired this week puts Bermuda at the intersection of connectivity between North America and Europe. It ultimately enhances:

• Digital resilience, through added redundancy and network diversity.
• Economic diversification, expanding Bermuda beyond its traditional sectors.
• Innovation capacity, enabling improved access to cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
• Jurisdictional attractiveness, strengthening global confidence in Bermuda.

We are delivering measurable outcomes.

Mr. Speaker, Jurisdictions around the world have shown what a cable landing can become when it is matched with deliberate policy. Singapore now hosts 26 subsea cable landings, and its digital economy contributed 18.6 per cent of GDP and 214,000 technology jobs in 2024, per the Infocomm Media Development Authority. Ireland turned its position as a transatlantic connectivity hub into a data centre sector that added an estimated 7.3 billion euros to its economy, per Trinity Business School, 2025. Marseille has grown from a historic port city into Europe’s leading cable hub, with 17 subsea cable landings as of 2025. And at the European end of Nuvem sits Sines, Portugal, where connectivity helped attract a 10 billion United States dollar artificial intelligence investment, announced in November 2025.

Each of these jurisdictions paired connectivity with regulatory clarity, skills, and energy planning. The lesson is consistent. Connectivity opens the door. Policy walks the economy through it. Bermuda is applying that same discipline, sized to our island and shaped by our people.

But beyond infrastructure, Mr. Speaker, Google’s relationship with Bermuda is delivering tangible benefits through:

• Investment in STEM education, and digital literacy, including support for Bermuda College, the Bermuda Zoological Society and St David’s Primary.

• Programs such as Grow with Google, through which 500 scholarships have been awarded to Bermuda residents for career and digital skills training, with access through Bermuda College until 31 December 2027, ensuring Bermudians are equipped with future ready digital skills which are validated through professional certification.

• A commitment, alongside the St David’s Island Historical Society, to assist restoration for Annie’s Bay and its heritage trail, preserving the history and unique maritime heritage of St David’s.

• The fostering of a collaborative model between Government, the private sector, and our regulators, demonstrating how to deliver complex, high-value national projects.

Mr. Speaker, For the people of Bermuda, these benefits are practical. Two cables interconnecting on our island mean that when a cable is damaged anywhere in the Atlantic, traffic can be rerouted, and our families, schools, hospitals, and businesses stay connected. The international evidence on connectivity is settled. The International Telecommunication Union found in 2020 that a 10 per cent increase in fixed broadband penetration raises GDP by an average of 0.77 per cent. Bermuda’s gains will come through resilience, through skills, and through the new industries this infrastructure invites.

Mr. Speaker, These cables carry opportunity.

Opportunity to expand Bermuda’s role in the subsea cable industry. Together these two cables establish a resilient ‘Digital Exchange Port’ that anchors Bermuda as a critical international switching point for global data, cloud services, and the future of AI. Bermuda has become a key geography for the technologies that will underpin the next stage of global economic growth.

Opportunity to attract adjacent industries that depend on secure, highcapacity connectivity.

And opportunity to build an ecosystem that supports innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement.

Indeed, Mr. Speaker, Bermuda is fast becoming a digital gem; an Atlantic hub at the crossroads of international data flows.

Mr. Speaker, What we witnessed on Wednesday in St David’s was the intersection of local heritage, the installation of high-tech infrastructure, and Bermuda’s future at the forefront of the next era of global digital growth. Wednesday’s ceremony brought together Government, industry, and community stakeholders to celebrate progress and to reaffirm a shared commitment to ensuring Bermuda derives lasting value from Google’s confidence in our remarkable island.

I extend my thanks to Google, its partners, our regulators, technical teams, and the Bermudian workforce whose collaboration made this milestone possible.

Mr. Speaker, With both cables in position and construction of the cable landing station underway, we look ahead to the next phase. The cable landing station is expected to be completed in 2027, bringing further economic and strategic benefits to the Island. The station is designed to accommodate up to four subsea cables, leaving room for Bermuda’s role to grow.

Mr. Speaker, This moment supports new industries, new opportunities, and a new direction for Bermuda’s economy. Together with Google, Bermuda can play a key role in ensuring the digital divide does not become the AI divide.

I also acknowledge and thank Former Deputy Premier and Minister Walter Roban for his leadership in initiating this work. It is an honour to stand here today marking its successful delivery.

Mr. Speaker, This achievement is part of a deliberate effort to establish Bermuda as a leader in the digital Atlantic economy.

The message is clear:

Bermuda is open.

Bermuda is ready.

And Bermuda is a partner of choice for world-class infrastructure and future-facing investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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