FEATURE FROM SEAFLOOR TO LAST MILE
How Distributed Edge Infrastructure Completes the Global Connectivity Chain BY DOUG RECKER
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ubmarine cables carry nearly all intercontinental data traffic, forming the foundation of today’s global internet. Analysts estimate that more than 99 percent of the world’s international data moves through these subsea systems, with more than $13 billion in new investment planned for 2025 through 2027 (1) (2). Major content providers including Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft now manage nearly half of this total capacity, driving unprecedented global bandwidth growth (1). Yet even with this progress, many networks face a distribution challenge: the vast throughput delivered at cable landing stations often stalls before they reach local markets and end users (3). The result is a last-mile problem for global connectivity. While undersea infrastructure continues to expand, terrestrial systems frequently remain centralized, concentrating traffic at a limited number of major exchange points. Bridging that gap requires distributed infrastructure capable of transforming global capacity into localized computing power. Edge data centers have emerged as a key piece of that continuum, extending the reach of subsea investment into local economies (4). Duos Edge AI’s modular edge architecture represents one example of how distributed computing can strengthen this connection between seafloor and service delivery (11).
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CABLE LANDING STATIONS AND THE DISTRIBUTION CHALLENGE
Cable landing stations (CLS) have evolved from simple termination points into hybrid campuses that integrate colocation, interconnection, and edge computing (3). These modern facilities form the junction between subsea cables and terrestrial networks, yet their success increasingly depends on what happens beyond the landing site. To distribute capacity efficiently, CLS operators require a network of nearby edge nodes that bring compute and storage closer to users (3) (4). Data from Uptime Institute shows that average rack power densities continue to rise across the industry, prompting new edge designs to prioritize efficient power distribution and modular scalability (6). Typical Performance Optimized Datacenter (POD)-scale systems, such as those around 300 kilowatts of total capacity, emphasize balanced loads across multiple cabinets while maintaining redundancy and secure interconnection standards, which are now considered baseline requirements rather than competitive differentiators. Geographic diversity also matters. Traditional landing points such as Miami or Los Angeles remain critical, but new routes are emerging in secondary markets to improve