AMAZON Mcs Ireland Ltd is seeking planning permission for a cable landing station in Clonakilty to facilitate an underwater fibre optic cable connecting Maryland in the US and Cork, writes Kieran O’Mahony.

The company lodged an application for the development at Tullyneasky West, Clonakilty which will see the demolition of two existing buildings and the construction of a cable landing station, an ESB substation and switch room building.

There had been fears locally that the company had intended to build a data centre but local councillors who met with AWS representatives last November were reassured that this was not the case.

It was also confirmed that the underwater fibre optic cable will not land within the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) near Castlefreke.

The company, subject to planning permission, hopes to deliver the underwater fibre optic cable, which is roughly the size of a domestic garden hose, to Castlefreke connecting the east coast of America with West Cork.

The cable system will have a capacity of 320 terabits per second, enough to stream 12.5m HD films at the same time and the network is expected to be operational in 2028, subject to planning permission.

An initial off-shore marine survey works permitted by the Maritime Usage Licence (MUL) has already been completed and a company spokesperson said they are committed to preserving the integrity of the coastal dune system throughout the installation process.

A MAC (Maritime Area Consent) from MARA (Maritime Area Regulatory Authority) is expected to be applied for, conditional on securing other necessary approvals.

It is understood that if a MAC is granted then the company will be required to apply to An Coimisiún Pleanála for planning permission to install the cable.