MDM unveils $500M transatlantic subsea cable duo linking Ireland to US East Coast

McMahon Design and Management (MDM) has announced plans for two new transatlantic subsea cable systems connecting Ireland to the United States, a move aimed at bolstering digital connectivity between Europe and North America. The Dublin-based infrastructure developer said the projects, collectively valued at $500 million, will enhance transatlantic data capacity at a time of surging demand for international bandwidth driven by cloud computing and AI workloads.

The first system, named Narwhal 1, will run from an existing MDM cable landing station in Galway, Ireland, to a location on Long Island, New York. The second, Narwhal 2, will connect a new planned landing station in southern Ireland to New Jersey. MDM is currently preparing permit applications for both systems and has begun procuring marine services. The provisional ready-for-service date for Narwhal 1 is set for the third quarter of 2029, while Narwhal 2 is targeted for 2030.

The projects will be funded through private equity alongside industry partners, MDM said, though the company has not yet disclosed further technical specifications such as cable length or the number of fiber pairs. Narwhal 1 and 2 are designed to interconnect with MDM's other under-development subsea systems linking Ireland to Europe and the UK. These include the Pisces System, which will connect Galway to Spain, France, and Portugal, as well as a new route from Galway to Norway and multiple systems connecting Ireland and the UK.

The Pisces System, announced in 2024, is planned to comprise 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) of cable with a minimum of eight fiber pairs. It is co-funded by the European Union's Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), with the first-phase main trunk connecting Galway to Sines, Portugal, scheduled for completion in 2028. The integration of Narwhal 1 and 2 with these regional systems will create a seamless high-capacity corridor stretching from the US East Coast to mainland Europe.

Founded in 1990 by Jim McMahon and Tom McMahon, MDM began as an Irish civil engineering consultancy and has since evolved into a global developer, builder, and operator of subsea cable infrastructure. The company has delivered more than 20 subsea cable systems spanning over 40,000 kilometers (24,854 miles) and connecting more than 50 coastal communities worldwide. The new transatlantic routes underscore Ireland's growing role as a strategic hub for international data traffic, leveraging its position between North America and Europe to meet rising demand for low-latency, high-reliability connectivity.