Artificial intelligence is transforming the global digital infrastructure landscape. From the rapid expansion of GPU-powered data centers to the growing adoption of AI applications, the industry is investing heavily in the computing power behind this next generation of technology. Data center spending currently accounts for most of that capital, but the long-haul subsea and terrestrial networks linking those facilities are becoming more critical.4
But behind every AI deployment is an equally important requirement: the network.
As AI workloads grow in scale and complexity, moving data between data centers, cloud environments, and global markets is becoming more critical. That is bringing renewed attention to the submarine cable systems that connect continents and the terrestrial networks that carry that capacity to its destination.
Subsea and terrestrial infrastructure have long served complementary roles in global communications. AI is accelerating the need for them to operate as one integrated connectivity ecosystem.
The future of AI infrastructure will depend not only on where computing power resides, but on how effectively it connects to the rest of the world.
Subsea Networks: The Global Foundation of AI Connectivity
Submarine cable systems carry more than 99% of intercontinental data traffic and form the backbone of global communications.12 They connect international markets, cloud regions, financial centers, and increasingly, the infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence.
AI training requires access to enormous datasets, often collected, stored, and processed in different geographic locations. Training tends to happen where power is abundant, while inference is placed close to users.3 Inference is creating new traffic patterns as applications deliver more sophisticated services to users worldwide, and as inference compute spreads geographically, the bandwidth needed between data center sites grows with it.5
TeleGeography forecasts used international bandwidth to grow about 24% a year from 2025 to 2035, roughly doubling every three years. Content providers, including hyperscalers, cloud providers, AI platforms, and neoclouds, already account for 75% of used international capacity.4
The industry is not simply preparing for more traffic. It is preparing for a changing mix of workloads that place different demands on capacity, latency, geographic reach, and resilience.
That shift is shaping investment in higher-capacity cable systems, new international routes, and the infrastructure that connects those systems to domestic networks.
Where the Subsea Network Meets the AI Data Center
Submarine cables provide the international connectivity that links global markets. The value of that capacity depends on what happens when it reaches land.
At the cable landing station, international subsea systems transition into terrestrial infrastructure, where connectivity extends toward data centers, cloud platforms, metropolitan networks, and enterprise locations.
Subsea Cables
Intercontinental capacity
Cable Landing Station
Ocean to land, global to domestic
Terrestrial Fiber
Diverse routes inland
AI Data Centers
Training, inference, cloud
This transition matters more as AI changes the geography of computing. AI infrastructure is not confined to a single data center or region. Training clusters, inference environments, cloud services, and enterprise applications may run across multiple locations, each requiring access to a broader network ecosystem.
A high-capacity international cable must be supported by terrestrial networks that can carry traffic efficiently to the computing environments where it is needed. Likewise, data centers supporting AI must consider their access to international connectivity, network diversity, and room to scale capacity as demand grows.
The result is a closer relationship between subsea network operators, terrestrial fiber providers, and data center developers.
The cable landing station is no longer simply where international connectivity reaches shore. It is a strategic point where global networks and AI infrastructure intersect.
AI Is Changing the Requirements for Global Network Architecture
AI is not only increasing the amount of data crossing networks. It is influencing how those networks are designed.
International connectivity strategies have traditionally focused on available capacity, geographic reach, and cost. Those remain essential, but AI is bringing four requirements to the front.
01
Greater network capacity
As datasets and distributed computing environments grow, operators must keep expanding their ability to move large volumes of data between international and domestic markets.
02
Physical route diversity
Greater dependence on interconnected infrastructure raises the importance of geographically diverse cable systems, terrestrial routes, and network entry points. The ITU and ICPC's 2026 resilience report names route diversity a global priority.2
03
Low-latency connectivity
Some distributed AI applications need responsive connections between compute and end users, which makes network architecture and infrastructure placement more important.
04
Scalable interconnection
AI developers need the flexibility to connect with multiple network providers, cloud ecosystems, and computing locations as requirements change.5
Together, these priorities move the conversation away from individual cable systems and network segments toward a view of end-to-end connectivity. A submarine cable may deliver substantial international capacity, but its performance and resilience depend on the terrestrial infrastructure and interconnection options behind it.
For AI, the entire connectivity path matters.
SecureWAVES: Bringing Subsea, Terrestrial, and AI Infrastructure Together
At NJFX, the convergence of subsea and terrestrial infrastructure has been central to the development of our carrier-neutral connectivity campus.
Located in Wall Township, New Jersey, NJFX provides direct access to international submarine cable systems alongside an ecosystem of terrestrial network operators, interconnection capabilities, and colocation infrastructure. Global connectivity and domestic networks come together in one strategically important location.
Through SecureWAVES, NJFX is highlighting this convergence as the digital infrastructure industry evolves to support AI. With access to multiple network operators and diverse connectivity options, customers can build network strategies that extend beyond a single carrier, route, or traditional interconnection market.
NJFX's continued evolution toward supporting high-density AI infrastructure reinforces the link between compute and connectivity. The objective is not simply to bring AI computing closer to international networks. It is to support an ecosystem where subsea capacity, terrestrial fiber, interconnection, and computing requirements are considered together.
The Next Chapter of Subsea Connectivity Will Be Driven by AI
The subsea industry has long played a foundational role in connecting economies, businesses, and digital services. Artificial intelligence is introducing another period of transformation.
As AI investment accelerates, demand for international capacity will continue to shape the development of submarine cable systems and the terrestrial networks supporting them. But the opportunity extends beyond larger cables or more fiber. It lies in stronger connections between the international networks carrying global traffic and the domestic infrastructure delivering that capacity to compute.
Cable landing stations, carrier-neutral interconnection points, and geographically diverse terrestrial routes will remain core components of that architecture. For NJFX, SecureWAVES reflects this next chapter: bringing together the infrastructure that connects global networks with the growing requirements of AI.
