Submarine Cable Landing Station (Carrier-Neutral)

A carrier-neutral submarine cable landing station is a coastal facility where undersea fiber optic cables connect to terrestrial broadband networks and are made available to multiple carriers and network operators on nondiscriminatory terms. These facilities serve as critical gateways for international data traffic, cloud connectivity, and global communications resilience.

Carrier-neutral landing stations enhance redundancy, reduce dependency on single providers, and strengthen national connectivity and security. While BEAD primarily targets domestic broadband access, the program’s emphasis on resilient, interoperable infrastructure aligns with broader efforts to strengthen the terrestrial networks that connect inland communities to international submarine cable systems.