Key takeaways
The transatlantic corridor has always been the backbone of global digital exchange, but the volume of traffic being managed across networks, and how traffic moves across it, is fundamentally changing. Driven by the growth of AI infrastructure, cloud workloads, and distributed data centre architectures, east-west traffic volumes continue to grow at an unprecedented rate.
Crucially, as the market has evolved, so have the demands of our customers. They are planning for growth on a scale we have never seen before. Hyperscalers, Neoclouds, and enterprise leaders are no longer procuring individual wavelengths. They need raw, scalable capacity at the spectrum and whole fibre-pair level to support next-generation compute.
Anticipating these shifts is built into our DNA. A decade ago, EXA Infrastructure and Aqua Comms redefined transatlantic performance with landmark systems like EXA Express and AEC-1. Today, operating together under EXA Infrastructure, we are combining our unparalleled engineering expertise to build something transformative – EXA Meridian, the first transatlantic subsea cable built by a single operator in ten years.
The engineering behind Meridian
Spanning 6,552 km between New Jersey, US,and Brean, UK, EXA Meridian adds significant capacity and route diversity as the ninth transatlantic cable in our portfolio.
Designed with up to 24 fibre pairs, it offers massive scalability and is positioned to provide over half a petabit of additional transatlantic capacity by 2029. The system is being uniquely built using a disaggregated system design which allow us to:
1. Select specialist components and suppliers independently across different elements of the project
2. Retain architectural control and single-partner accountability to guarantee service quality and network integrity for customers
3. Ensure long-term flexibility, so the system can evolve as optical technology advances and customer capacity requirements change
4. Accelerate our RFS timeline by optimising supply chain procurement and deployment schedules
What EXA Meridian means for our customers
With the launch of this new cable, what matters most is what this infrastructure enables for our customers.
EXA Meridian is not an isolated subsea cable. By combining our deep subsea and terrestrial network expertise and integrating the new system directly into our existing infrastructure, we are creating an end-to-end connectivity platform, not just another standalone cable.
From our landing station in Brean, a fully diverse terrestrial backhaul connects directly into Slough and our wider pan-European backbone. Because EXA Infrastructure owns and operates both the subsea and terrestrial footprint, we take critical workloads all the way from Ashburn to Istanbul under one roof.
For our customers, EXA Meridian delivers three clear advantages.
1. Differentiated scale and reach: It provides Hyperscalers and Neoclouds with a differentiated combination of fibre-pair scale, route diversity, and seamless reach into Europe through a single reliable network partner. This owned end-to-end model eliminates third-party hand-offs, reduces operational risk, and provides clear accountability for infrastructure.
2. Complete routing: Integrating EXA Meridian directly into our meshed network gives customers complete routing choice, allowing traffic flows to be designed around exact priorities - whether that’s optimising for latency, maximum resilience, capacity, or data sovereignty. So rather than buying a static path, customers gain access to a dynamic network platform built to scale seamlessly alongside long-term AI and cloud roadmaps.
3. Governance and risk management: A project of this scale depends on rigorous co-ordination across suppliers, permitting, marine construction, and operational readiness. Our teams are applying decades of operational experience to manage regulatory, contractual, and delivery risks early, protecting customer commitments and ensuring dependable, long-term operation.
Building for the future
EXA Meridian is already fully backed by key anchor customers and targeted to be ready for service in H2 2029. It’s the result of acting early and executing with discipline and is a clear reflection of our market confidence and disciplined capital strategy.
By securing critical supply-chain capacity early, the strength of these commercial commitments and the support of our shareholders give us a clear funding path to deliver critical infrastructure while maintaining the financial resilience needed for EXA’s wider growth.
But EXA Meridian is just one chapter in a much larger story.
At EXA Infrastructure, we are dedicated to investing proactively where we know market demand will arise. Over the years, we have consistently invested ahead of the curve to eliminate bottlenecks, with notable developments including a new long-haul route from Barcelona to Bilbao unlocking direct Atlantic access for subsea cables landing in the Mediterranean, and Project Visegrád, central Europe’s largest cross-border backbone build in 25 years.
As digital architectures shift and data requirements compound, we will continue to invest, expand our footprint, and build the resilient, high-capacity foundations our partners need to thrive in the coming years and beyond.
