Microsoft is to invest in underwater cables to connect its data centres in Ireland, the UK and North America.

The software giant has signed partnerships with Hibernia Networks and Aqua Comms, each of which will provide an underwater cable that links Microsoft’s North American infrastructure with data centres in Ireland and the UK.

The cables will transfer data around the world at rapid speeds. Microsoft hopes this will give it an edge over its competitors while also expanding the reach of its cloud business.

"As people and organisations expect data and information at their fingertips, Microsoft must have an infrastructure that can deliver the cloud services . . . which our customers need to support their global businesses," said David Crowley, managing director of network enablement at Microsoft.

He said the cables would help deliver data at higher speeds, with higher capacity and lower latency for Microsoft customers across the globe.

“The goal of our expansions and investments in subsea cables is so our customers have the greatest access to scale and highly available data, anywhere,” he said.

Hibernia Networks has been selected to provide connectivity for Microsoft between Ballinspittle, Co Cork, Brean in the UK and Halifax in Canada.

Microsoft is also partnering with Aqua Comms, as revealed in The Irish Times last month, and will be the first foundation customer on its €300 million fibre network linking Mayo to New York.

The fibre-optic system should be up and running in the early part of 2016, providing scope for a swathe of new high-tech investments along the western seaboard via Killala, Co Mayo.

Landing station

Mr Crowley also said Microsoft had joined a consortium of companies including China Telecom, China Mobile and KT Corporation that were working to build the first physical landing station in the US connecting North America to Asia, in what will be known as the New Cross Pacific (NCP) Cable Network.

“The NCP Cable Network will provide faster data connections for customers, aid Microsoft in competing on cloud costs, all while creating jobs and spurring local economies,” he said.

The NCP cables will span more than 13,000km and will link facilities in Oregon with Chongming, Nanhui and Lingang in China; Busan, South Korea; Maruyama, Japan; and Toucheng, Taiwan.