Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a concept of the future—it’s the driving force of today’s digital transformation. As enterprises, hyperscalers, and financial institutions demand more processing power closer to their users and data sources, the need for strategically placed AI infrastructure has never been greater. At NJFX, we believe the next evolution in digital infrastructure starts at the edge—specifically, at the cable landing station (CLS).

Traditionally, cable landing stations served as passive gateways where subsea cables reached terrestrial networks. But NJFX has redefined this model by transforming our CLS into a full-fledged carrier-neutral colocation hub. This paradigm shift now makes it possible to host high-density, AI-ready infrastructure directly at the CLS—bypassing congested metro routes and enabling faster, more resilient data processing.

The Emergence of Hybrid Cable Landing Stations
The industry is witnessing a significant shift with the rise of hybrid cable landing stations. These facilities integrate subsea connectivity with AI processing capabilities, enabling localized compute power at network entry points. This evolution supports the growing demand for distributed inference deployments, moving beyond traditional hyperscaler models. As noted in Total Telecom, hybrid CLSs allow:

• Lower latency, with AI workloads processed closer to the end user
• Greater flexibility for deploying inference at strategic global entry points
• Modular scalability, adapting to evolving infrastructure needs

Total Telecom also emphasizes that hybrid cable landing stations reduce the need for long-haul data transport, cutting latency for AI-driven applications while optimizing bandwidth utilization.

As these shifts take hold, investors and data center operators must rethink long-term strategies. The move away from ultra-large AI campuses suggests that speculative hyperscaler builds may carry greater risk, particularly those requiring extensive power commitments. Instead, mid-sized deployments of 1MW/5MW/20MW and modular colocation models are becoming more attractive investment targets. This approach enables customers to scale their infrastructure in a secure and manageable way, aligning with operational budgets and long-term digital transformation goals.

For enterprises, the ability to leverage regionalized AI infrastructure offers cost advantages while reducing reliance on traditional hyperscaler platforms. GPU-as-a-service providers and enterprise-owned AI deployments are also gaining traction, further diversifying the AI infrastructure landscape.

Why Edge AI Begins at the Shoreline
The rise of AI inference workloads demands low latency, high throughput, and proximity to data sources. Hosting AI edge nodes at the CLS offers a unique advantage:

• Proximity to Global Data Flows
  With direct access to subsea cables connecting North America to Europe, South America, and the Caribbean, NJFX is a global crossroads for data—ideal for AI applications relying on real-time international data ingestion.

• Low Latency Performance
  By connecting directly to the cable landing station, NJFX enables diverse network pathways to legacy hubs like Ashburn, NYC, and Miami—or entirely avoids these congestion points through unique routing options. This provides customers with lower latency and highly resilient options for real-time inference, improving performance for AI-driven applications and mission-critical data workloads.

• High-Density Power & Cooling Capabilities
  NJFX’s first floor features a 4.5MW water-cooled data hall, purpose-built for power-intensive AI applications. The second floor offers air-cooled capacity of up to 500kW, with rack densities reaching 40kW—ideal for modular AI deployments.

A New Standard for AI Infrastructure
AI is only as powerful as the infrastructure behind it. At NJFX, we’ve built a facility that scales intelligently and sustainably. Whether supporting GPUs, DSP’s, or other AI accelerators, we offer:

• Modular deployment options for phased rollouts
• Access to 35+ global and terrestrial network operators for diverse, low-latency routing
• A secure, Tier 3 environment designed for uptime and resilience
• Water-based cooling systems to support high density MW deployments

Enabling AI Ecosystems Through Partnership
The future of AI isn’t built alone. NJFX partners with cloud providers, hyperscalers, hardware vendors, and global carriers to offer a collaborative ecosystem. With our strategic location and carrier-neutral design, we empower organizations to deploy purpose-built AI infrastructure—from core training clusters to distributed inference nodes—right at the intersection of global and terrestrial connectivity.

To meet growing AI data demands, Boldyn Networks recently deployed Ciena WaveLogic 6 technology at NJFX, offering wavelength service that is scalable up to 1.6 Tb/s. This investment enables the bandwidth and optical networking capabilities required for AI-intensive workloads, delivering high-capacity, low-latency connectivity directly to NJFX tenants and interconnection partners.

Future Outlook: CLS at the Forefront of Connectivity
As emphasized by SubTel Forum, the transformation of CLS is reshaping the global connectivity landscape. As key enablers of international data traffic, they are becoming essential components of the digital ecosystem. With continued advancements in technology, strategic planning, and a focus on sustainability, CLS are poised to ensure seamless, resilient, and efficient global communications for years to come.

AI innovation doesn’t stop at the data center core—it extends to the edge. As global data flows increase and inference becomes more distributed, cable landing stations are evolving into essential hubs for intelligent infrastructure. NJFX is proud to lead this transformation, empowering the next generation of AI through unmatched connectivity, high-performance colocation, and a truly global reach.

The future of AI infrastructure is fast, intelligent, and strategically located—and it’s already happening at the NJFX Cable Landing Station.

In today’s hyper-connected world, the role of the cable landing station (CLS) is transforming. No longer simply an access point for undersea cables, the CLS is emerging as a critical hub that networks increasingly rely on for primary connectivity. Recent industry analyses and articles reinforce this shift, underscoring how direct interconnection at CLSs drives lower latency, enhanced resiliency, and cost efficiency.

At NJFX, we have always been forward-thinking. As the first carrier-neutral CLS and colocation facility in the U.S., we’ve been empowering companies with direct, secure access to major subsea cables spanning North America, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. Today, that model is evolving. Networks are beginning to leverage CLSs as their main point of interconnection, while still using other Points of Presence (PoPs) to ensure network diversity and redundancy.

The Shift: CLSs as Core Hubs, Not Just Edge Assets

Traditionally, network traffic would route through CLSs as a mere stepping stone before reaching larger interconnection hubs like Ashburn or Manhattan. This conventional approach often resulted in increased costs and potential bottlenecks due to long-haul backhauls. However, as noted in a recent article from TeleGeography, networks are now finding strategic advantages in establishing direct interconnection at CLSs. This direct approach not only reduces latency but also minimizes points of failure, supporting the accelerated needs of cloud and AI applications.

Complementing CLSs with Diverse PoPs

While many networks are turning to CLSs as their primary interconnection points, articles in industry publications like Light Reading highlight the value of maintaining a diverse portfolio of connectivity options. By combining the robust capabilities of CLSs with traditional PoPs spread across key markets—such as NYC, Ashburn, Atlanta, and Miami—network operators achieve several benefits:

• Enhanced Redundancy: Routing traffic through multiple, diverse paths minimizes downtime and mitigates the risk of service interruption due to outages or cable cuts.

• Optimized Regional Performance: Direct and localized interconnections support the bandwidth and latency requirements of today’s cloud, edge, and AI applications.

• Flexible, Cost-effective Networks: Diversification permits a tailored approach where each network component is optimized for specific operational needs, ultimately driving down costs.

A comprehensive feature in Data Center Knowledge reinforces this narrative, detailing how hybrid interconnection strategies—integrating both CLS and traditional PoP solutions—are becoming best practice for global network operators who demand resilience and speed.

Why It Matters

For financial institutions, hyperscalers, content distributors, and emerging AI-powered platforms, the advantages of connecting at a CLS like NJFX include:

• Direct Global Market Access: Immediate connectivity to a myriad of subsea cables expands global reach and market opportunities.

• Improved Network Resiliency: The combined power of direct CLS interconnection and diversified PoPs ensures robust network continuity in the face of unexpected challenges.

• Lower Latency for High-Demand Applications: Closer proximity to diverse network nodes minimizes delays, a critical advantage as applications become increasingly time-sensitive.

• Cost-effective Scalability: Reducing the need for extensive backhauling directly translates into economic benefits for expanding network infrastructures.

Looking Ahead

As data volumes skyrocket and real-time applications become the norm, the network industry is undergoing rapid evolution. The direct interconnection at cable landing stations represents more than just a trend—it’s a fundamental shift in network architecture and strategy. New industry insights continue to show that the convergence of subsea connectivity with terrestrial networking infrastructure isn’t just beneficial; it’s necessary to handle the growing demands of an AI-enabled, digital-first global market.

At NJFX, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this evolution. By combining direct CLS connectivity with strategically located PoPs, we’re not just preparing for the future—we’re actively shaping it.

The global economy depends on the silent giants beneath our oceans—subsea cables. These fiber optic lifelines are the unsung heroes of the digital era, transmitting more than 95% of international data, supporting everything from emails to financial transactions and cloud applications. But as with all infrastructure, these cables have a lifecycle, and many are approaching the end of theirs.

Most subsea cables are built with a design lifespan of about 25 years. As these systems age, they face numerous challenges. The optical fibers within the cables degrade over time due to constant exposure to environmental pressures such as temperature changes, water pressure, and natural seismic activity. Electrically powered repeaters, which amplify signals across thousands of kilometers, also wear down and are expensive to replace.

Maintaining these older cables becomes a logistical and financial burden. Repairs often require highly specialized ships and crews, with downtime potentially lasting days or even weeks—impacting critical connectivity. In some cases, the costs of maintenance can rival or exceed the cost of new builds.

From a performance standpoint, older cables were not designed for the data volumes and bandwidth demands we see today. The explosion of AI-driven applications, streaming services, global cloud adoption, and latency-sensitive financial transactions has created a level of network strain that legacy infrastructure simply cannot accommodate. Even with advanced modulation techniques, there’s a physical ceiling to how much capacity can be extracted from these aging systems.

In a world where milliseconds matter and resiliency is non-negotiable, relying on end-of-life infrastructure puts enterprises, governments, and service providers at risk.

Extending Lifespans vs. Building New Systems

An example of extending the lifespan of existing infrastructure is the SEA-ME-WE 4 (South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4) cable system. Originally completed in 2005, this approximately 18,800 km submarine cable connects multiple countries across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. In March 2024, the SEA-ME-WE 4 consortium completed an upgrade using Ciena’s GeoMesh Extreme submarine network solution. This enhancement increased the system’s capacity from 65 Tbps to 122 Tbps, effectively doubling its previous capacity and extending its operational viability.

Investing in New Systems: Meta’s Project Waterworth

Conversely, companies like Meta are investing in entirely new infrastructure to meet future demands. Meta’s Project Waterworth is an ambitious $10 billion subsea cable system designed to circumnavigate geopolitical tension zones, ensuring secure, high-capacity connectivity. This project exemplifies the proactive approach of building new systems to support the next generation of high-speed connectivity essential for powering AI and digital transformation globally.

These examples illustrate the dual strategies in the industry: upgrading existing cables to extend their service life and constructing new systems to accommodate future demands. Both approaches are vital in ensuring robust and scalable global connectivity.

Real-World Investment in Transatlantic Connectivity

Industry leaders are already investing in the future:

• Google’s Grace Hopper Cable connects the U.S. with the U.K. and Spain. Recently, Colt achieved a milestone 1.2 Tbps per wavelength transmission, reflecting both speed and sustainability gains.
• EXA Infrastructure manages an extensive transatlantic network including systems like Dunant, Havfrue/AEC-2, and Amitié, providing key connectivity between Europe and North America.
• Amazon has filed plans for a new cable linking Ireland to the U.S., adding to its global infrastructure footprint to support cloud services.

According to Telegeography, Between 2023 and 2025, the subsea cable industry is experiencing a significant boom, with investments totaling around $10 billion to bring approximately 78 new systems online, adding over 300,000 kilometers of cable.

These developments underscore the industry’s commitment to expanding and modernizing transatlantic connectivity to meet the growing global demand for data transmission.

Future-Proofing Global Connectivity

Forward-thinking network operators, cloud providers, and infrastructure investors are already responding. New builds are not just about capacity—they’re about preparing for a data-driven future. Cables like Havfrue/AEC-2, Grace Hopper, Dunant, and Amitié are examples of this next wave, offering unprecedented speeds and modern architecture. As older systems retire, these new cables will form the backbone of tomorrow’s digital economy.

The subsea cable industry stands at a crossroads. We can continue to patch aging systems, or we can make strategic investments that enable global progress. With only so many transatlantic crossings possible, now is the time to build the infrastructure that will carry us into the next era of connectivity.

At NJFX, we recognize the importance of this transition and are committed to supporting next-generation infrastructure through carrier-neutral interconnection points and strategic partnerships. As new systems emerge, we’re ensuring that the landing points and ecosystem are ready to support the data demands of the future.