MEO will join the Nuvem submarine cable system, developed by Google, becoming an investor and national partner in one of the most important digital infrastructure projects in the Atlantic. This investment strengthens Portugal’s transatlantic connectivity and consolidates the country’s position as a strategic platform for digital interconnection.
Six years after the Columbus III system—the only cable connecting Portugal to the United States—was decommissioned, MEO is once again investing in strategic transatlantic submarine infrastructure. As an investor and national partner in the Nuvem system, developed by Google, the company reaffirms its commitment to digital infrastructure and to strengthening Portugal’s position in the global digital ecosystem.
This investment strengthens international communications and helps consolidate Portugal's position as a strategic platform for digital interconnection between Europe and the Americas.
The Nuvem system establishes a new connection between the East Coast of the United States and Portugal via a route that includes Bermuda and the Azores, creating a strategic and more resilient route for North Atlantic connections. This new infrastructure strengthens the resilience of international communications amid growing global demand driven by the cloud, artificial intelligence, data centers, and digital services.
By establishing a direct connection between Portugal and the United States, the system also enhances the country's appeal for investments in data centers, cloud platforms, and global technology services.
Thanks to its strategic location and the growing number of international infrastructure projects converging in the country, Portugal is increasingly establishing itself as an Atlantic gateway to Europe and as a prime hub connecting the Americas, Africa, and the European continent.
“Nuvem represents much more than a new connection between Portugal and the United States. It is a strategic infrastructure designed to meet the growth of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data centers, while strengthening the resilience of international communications. “This investment helps establish Portugal as one of the main digital gateways between Europe and the Americas and demonstrates MEO’s ambition to continue investing in the infrastructure that supports the digital economy,” emphasizes Nuno Cadima, Chief Operations Officer at MEO.
"The future of global connectivity rests on strong partnerships and shared infrastructure. Today’s announcement, made in partnership with MEO, continues our journey toward greater Internet reach, reliability, and resilience. Building on our work with MEO on the Equiano project and our more recent collaboration with many other telecommunications operators, Google is committed to collaborative and shared investment in undersea infrastructure. By working together, we ensure that this vital connection supports local digital ecosystems and serves as a robust, open platform for innovation that benefits communities on both sides of the Atlantic. “We look forward to future announcements with our European partners to improve Europe’s digital connections based on shared investments,” said Nigel Bayliff, Senior Director of Global Submarine Networks at Google.
MEO’s participation in the Nuvem system represents a new milestone in the company’s investment strategy for strategic connectivity infrastructure. More than just strengthening the international capacity of its networks, this investment helps consolidate Portugal’s position as a leading digital hub, prepared to meet the challenges of the digital economy and the growing connectivity demands of the coming decades.