Aqua Comms
Aqua Comms is an Ireland-based, carrier-neutral subsea fiber optic cable operator founded in 2014, wholly owning five transatlantic and Irish Sea cable systems serving hyperscale cloud providers, Tier 1 carriers, and enterprises with high-capacity wavelength, dark fibre, and spectrum services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Aqua Comms does
Aqua Comms is a Dublin-based, carrier-neutral subsea fiber optic cable operator founded in 2014, specializing in high-capacity transatlantic and intra-European connectivity. The company wholly owns and operates five submarine cable systems totaling over 19,500km: AEC-1, AEC-2, and AEC-3 (transatlantic routes linking the US East Coast to Ireland and the UK), plus CC-1 and CC-2 (Irish Sea crossings connecting Ireland to the UK, including 131km and 301km routes respectively). Its core technology stack is built on Ciena 6500 optical line systems with WaveLogic coherent processors, supporting wavelength services at 10Gbps, 100Gbps, and 400Gbps with an 800Gbps roadmap. The company offers three primary product lines — Wavelengths (lit capacity), Dark Fibre (long-term IRU ownership on CC-1/CC-2), and Spectrum (fractional fibre pair ownership, managed or unmanaged) — complemented by a dedicated 24/7 Aqua NOC launched in mid-2025.
Aqua Comms generates revenue primarily through multi-year capacity contracts with hyperscale cloud operators (Meta, Microsoft), Tier 1 carriers (Vodafone, Windstream Wholesale, Colt, Manx Telecom), government/research networks (ESnet for the U.S. Department of Energy), and enterprise customers, structured as 12–36 month leases or 10–20 year IRUs. Its GTM combines direct enterprise sales targeting global accounts with a wholesale/reseller channel serving carriers and partners who redistribute capacity. Differentiators include a strictly carrier-neutral stance, wholly-owned end-to-end infrastructure, industry-leading provisioning turnaround (as fast as 5 days), 99.5–99.95% SLAs, and a sustainability profile targeting 100% renewable energy by 2030 (currently over 60% renewable). The company expanded operations to India via the January 2023 acquisition of Openbyte Infrastructure Private Limited and participated in the Amitié consortium alongside Meta, Microsoft, and Vodafone to deploy the highest-capacity transatlantic cable ever built.
On January 17, 2025, EXA Infrastructure (an I Squared Capital portfolio company) signed binding agreements to acquire Aqua Comms from Digital 9 Infrastructure for approximately £34 million (~$46 million), with the deal finalizing on December 31, 2025. Post-acquisition, Aqua Comms operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary within EXA's digital infrastructure platform spanning over 160,000km across 37 countries, integrating its 7 transatlantic routes and 22 cable landing stations into a combined network.
Aqua Comms firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aqua Comms
- Legal name
- Aqua Comms DAC
- Website
- https://aquacomms.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aqua Comms is an Ireland-based, carrier-neutral subsea fiber optic cable operator founded in 2014, wholly owning five transatlantic and Irish Sea cable systems serving hyperscale cloud providers, Tier 1 carriers, and enterprises with high-capacity wavelength, dark fibre, and spectrum services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aqua Comms industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Subsea Telecommunications Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Subsea Cable System Owners & Consortia (Wet Plant Investment) (HDAIALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Wholesale Wavelength, Spectrum & Dark Fiber Providers (IRU/Leases) (HDAIALAI)
Keywords
Where Aqua Comms is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Aqua Comms business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Wavelength Services: Lit capacity services offering high-availability optical subsea capacity at fixed speeds (10Gbps, 100Gbps, 400Gbps, with 800Gbps coming). Provides standard or diverse configurations with industry-leading SLAs (99.5% standard, 99.95% for backhaul protected routes). Revenue generated through service leases typically 12-36 months.
- Dark Fibre: Complete ownership and control of dedicated fiber pairs for carrier-grade networks. Long-term agreements of 10+ years (IRUs) offering predictable revenue and bandwidth scalability. Available on CC-1 and CC-2 Irish Sea systems.
- Spectrum Services: Fractional ownership of fiber pairs (25% or 50% allocation) providing scalability and control without full capital outlay. Available as managed (Aqua Comms handles SLTE) or unmanaged (customer manages equipment). Capital-efficient model for large bandwidth requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Wavelength Services with SLA tiers |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Dark Fibre IRU |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Spectrum Services - Managed or Unmanaged |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Aqua Comms product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aqua Comms owns and operates five wholly-owned subsea fibre optic cable systems (AEC-1, AEC-2, AEC-3 across the North Atlantic; CC-1 and CC-2 across the Irish Sea) and sells three connectivity products on top of them: Wavelengths (lit optical capacity at 10/100/400/800Gbps using Ciena 6500), Dark Fibre (long-term dedicated fibre pair ownership) and Spectrum (fractional 25%/50% fibre pair ownership, managed or unmanaged). The portfolio is targeted at hyperscale cloud operators, global carriers, content providers, research networks and large enterprises needing high-capacity transatlantic and intra-European connectivity.
Product overview
Aqua Comms is a carrier-neutral provider of subsea connectivity solutions, operating a portfolio of five submarine cable systems: AEC-1, AEC-2, AEC-3 (Transatlantic routes connecting US to Ireland and UK), and CC-1, CC-2 (Irish Sea crossings connecting Ireland to UK). The company offers three core connectivity products—Wavelengths (lit capacity using Ciena 6500 technology at 10/100/400/800Gbps), Dark Fibre (dedicated fibre ownership on CC-1 and CC-2), and Spectrum (fractional fibre pair ownership offering managed or unmanaged services)—complemented by the Aqua NOC 24/7 network operations centre for monitoring and support. The portfolio is designed to serve carriers, cloud providers, content networks, and enterprises requiring high-capacity, low-latency transatlantic and intra-European connectivity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wavelengths
Quantifiable outcome
- 67% reduction in power consumption per terabit with WaveLogic Ai technology
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Aqua Comms
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Aqua Comms technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Aqua Comms partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Manx TelecomminorInvestment in new subsea off-island connectivity with branches into the Isle of Man, enhancing reach and resilience for the Isle of Man telecommunications infrastructure.
- Energy Sciences Network (ESnet)coreLong-term lease agreement for 25% of a fibre pair on the Transatlantic subsea network, facilitating high-performance data connectivity between New York, Dublin, and London. Serves the U.S. Department of Energy's scientific research community, particularly for CERN's Large Hadron Collider data transfer needs.
- MetacoreCo-development partner in the Amitié cable system (AEC-3) - the highest capacity transatlantic subsea cable system ever deployed. Aqua Comms operates AEC-3 as part of the Amitié consortium alongside Meta, Microsoft, and Vodafone. The system connects Boston to Slough/London with high-capacity fiber pairs.
- MicrosoftcoreCo-development partner in the Amitié cable system (AEC-3) - the highest capacity transatlantic subsea cable system ever deployed. Microsoft collaborated with Aqua Comms, Meta, and Vodafone on this landmark infrastructure project.
- VodafonecoreCo-development partner in the Amitié cable system (AEC-3). Vodafone contributed to this landmark transatlantic infrastructure project alongside Aqua Comms, Meta, and Microsoft.
- Windstream WholesaleminorPartnership with Colt and Aqua Comms to deliver wave connectivity from U.S. to Europe. Windstream Wholesale serves as a channel partner distributing transatlantic capacity to their customer base.
- ColtminorPartnership with Windstream Wholesale and Aqua Comms to deliver wave connectivity from U.S. to Europe. Colt distributes transatlantic capacity through their European network.
- Suboptic FoundationminorPartnership supporting the subsea cable industry's professional community through the Suboptic Foundation, which promotes education and research in submarine telecommunications.
- Bulk Fiber NetworkscoreCo-development partner in the Havhingsten cable system (part of AEC-2 / HavFrue system) connecting East Coast of US with Ireland and Northern Europe. Havhingsten was completed in 2022.
- World Ocean CouncilminorAqua Comms is a member of the World Ocean Council, the alliance for corporate ocean responsibility, supporting sustainable ocean business leadership.
- NYU ResearchminorSupporting NYU research into carbon efficiency of subsea cables and cable landing stations to maximize environmental sustainability of digital infrastructure.
- ITU/WMO/UNESCO IOC Joint Task Force on Smart Submarine CablesminorPartnered with ITU/WMO/UNESCO IOC Joint Task Force on Smart Submarine Cables to encourage use of cables for seismic monitoring.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Aqua Comms competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bulk Fiber Networks: Norway-based subsea cable operator that co-developed the HavFrue/Havhingsten cable system (which includes Aqua Comms' AEC-2). Operates similar wholesale subsea capacity across Northern Europe with a comparable boutique operator model.
- Colt Technology Services: Channel partner of Aqua Comms for transatlantic wave connectivity (US to Europe). Colt operates its own wavelength services and European fibre network, competing directly with Aqua in the carrier/wholesale wavelength market.
- Zayo Group: Major wholesale fibre and wavelength services provider with extensive transatlantic and European infrastructure. Competes directly with Aqua Comms for hyperscaler, carrier, and enterprise wavelength/spectrum customers.
- Telia Carrier (Arelion): Wholesale global carrier offering wavelengths, fibre, and IP transit across transatlantic and European routes. A direct competitor for Aqua Comms' carrier and hyperscaler customer base.
- GTT Communications: Global tier-1 IP and wholesale wavelength provider with transatlantic infrastructure serving carriers and enterprises. Overlaps with Aqua Comms in wholesale and reseller capacity distribution.
- Windstream Wholesale: Wholesale fibre and wavelength services provider in the US with transatlantic connectivity partnerships (including the Colt/Windstream/Aqua Comms US-to-Europe wave arrangement). A channel partner that also competes for similar customers.
- Sparkle (Telecom Italia): Italian carrier's international wholesale arm operating multiple subsea cable systems (e.g., BlueMed) and offering wavelengths/spectrum to carriers and hyperscalers across the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
- RETN: Independent wholesale carrier with European fibre backbone and growing transatlantic presence serving carriers, ISPs, and content providers with wavelength and IP transit services.
Broad incumbents
- Lumen Technologies: Tier-1 global carrier with substantial subsea capacity and wavelength services across the Atlantic. A broader incumbent that overlaps Aqua Comms in wholesale wavelengths but serves a much wider enterprise portfolio.
- Hibernia Express (now EXA Infrastructure): Low-latency transatlantic cable now part of EXA Infrastructure (Aqua Comms' parent post-2025 acquisition). A broad incumbent offering overlapping transatlantic and European wholesale capacity within the same corporate parent.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aqua Comms social profiles
Digital presenceAqua Comms compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Aqua Comms financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aqua Comms leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Aqua Comms subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Aqua Comms funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aqua Comms M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aqua Comms
What does Aqua Comms do?
Aqua Comms owns and operates five wholly-owned subsea fibre optic cable systems (AEC-1, AEC-2, AEC-3 across the North Atlantic; CC-1 and CC-2 across the Irish Sea) and sells three connectivity products on top of them: Wavelengths (lit optical capacity at 10/100/400/800Gbps using Ciena 6500), Dark Fibre (long-term dedicated fibre pair ownership) and Spectrum (fractional 25%/50% fibre pair ownership, managed or unmanaged). The portfolio is targeted at hyperscale cloud operators, global carriers, content providers, research networks and large enterprises needing high-capacity transatlantic and intra-European connectivity.
Is Aqua Comms a public or private company?
Aqua Comms is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently acquired.
When was Aqua Comms founded?
Aqua Comms was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aqua Comms based?
Aqua Comms is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Aqua Comms make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Wavelength Services are the primary driver. The others are dark Fibre and spectrum Services.
Who are Aqua Comms's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bulk Fiber Networks, Colt Technology Services, Zayo Group, Telia Carrier (Arelion), GTT Communications, Windstream Wholesale, Sparkle (Telecom Italia) and RETN. Broad incumbents are Lumen Technologies and Hibernia Express (now EXA Infrastructure).
Does Aqua Comms have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aqua Comms.
What industry is Aqua Comms in?
Aqua Comms's product category is Subsea Telecommunications Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIALAA, Subsea Cable System Owners & Consortia (Wet Plant Investment), with a secondary code of HDAIALAI, Wholesale Wavelength, Spectrum & Dark Fiber Providers (IRU/Leases). Its NAICS code is 517111 and its SIC code is 3576.