NOTICE OF PROPOSED GRANT OF CONDITIONAL SUBMARINE CABLE LICENCES

The Regulatory Authority of Bermuda (Authority) has received two submarine cable licence applications under Part 6 of the Submarine Communications Cables Act 2020 (SCCA). 

The applicant for the two submarine cable licences (to land and operate a submarine cable) is Skipjack Infrastructure Limited (owned by Google LLC) for the NUVEM and SOL submarine cable systems.

On 15 April 2026, the Authority granted two Protection Zone Installation Permits to Skipjack Infrastructure Limited to install two submarine cables (NUVEM and SOL) in a cable protection zone within Bermuda’s territorial waters under Part 5 of the SCCA. The location of the two submarine cable systems is as follows:

NUVEM Submarine Cable System

Bermuda Cable Landing Point 

• The NUVEM subsea cable system is planned to land on the north shore of Annie’s Bay, St. David’s.  
• The cable will be installed within the dedicated Cable Protection Zone (as set out in the SCCA) on the southern side of St. David’s Island.

International Cable Landing Points 

• The NUVEM subsea cable system will connect Portugal (Sines) in Europe to the United States (Myrtle Beach, SC, USA). The system will include two branches, one into Bermuda (landing at Annie’s Bay, St David’s), and the second one into Azores (Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island). 

SOL Submarine Cable System

Bermuda Cable Landing Point 

• The SOL subsea cable system is planned to land on the north shore of Annie’s Bay, St. David’s.  
•  The cable will be installed within the dedicated Cable Protection Zone (as set out in the SCCA) on the southern side of St. David’s Island. 

International Cable Landing Points 

The SOL subsea cable system will connect Spain (Santander, Cantabria) in Europe to the United States (Flagler Beach, Florida). The system will include two branches, one into Bermuda (landing at Annie’s Bay, St David’s), and the second one into the Azores (Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island). 

Under section 58(2) of the SCCA, a submarine cable licence has no effect before the submarine cable has been installed according to a protection zone installation permit under Part 5 of the SCCA. According to section 58(2) of the SCCA the Authority can grant a conditional licence to land and operate the submarine cables if the licence is applied before the cables are installed. This conditional licence is contingent on the installation of the submarine cables and has no effect until the installation of the submarine cable is complete. 

Considering the applications received and the requirements of Part 6 of the SCCA, the Authority proposes to grant conditional submarine cable licences to Skipjack Infrastructure Limited for the NUVEM and SOL submarine cables. The proposed licences would come into effect once the respective submarine cable is installed and would have a maximum term of 25 years.

Given the proposed decision, the Authority invites any person who objects to the grant of the submarine cable licences for the NUVEM and SOL submarine cable systems to submit in writing to the Authority any objection they may have regarding the grant of these licences within seven days of the publication of this notice.

Objections must be submitted to the RA at consultation@ra.bm referencing “Objection to Proposed Grant of Submarine Cable Licences”. Such objections must be submitted no later than 1700 ADT on 31 May 2026.