Major Expansion for South Carolina’s First Cable Landing Station
US data center operator DC Blox has announced significant expansion plans for its cable landing station (CLS) facility in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, according to recent reports. The company confirmed it is acquiring approximately 20 acres of adjacent land within the Myrtle Beach International Technology and Aerospace Park to accommodate growing demand from global technology companies.
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Enhanced Capacity for Subsea Cable Infrastructure
The expansion reportedly has the potential to accommodate up to five additional subsea cables and an additional 20MW of power from the current on-site substation. Sources indicate that three of the five available cable slots at the original facility have already been reserved – two for Google and one for Meta Platforms, demonstrating strong demand for connectivity in the region.
Analysts suggest this expansion positions the facility to become what local officials describe as “the largest facility of its kind on the Eastern Seaboard” in Horry County. The rapid uptake of available capacity at the original CLS, which launched in October 2023 as South Carolina’s first such facility, has driven the need for additional infrastructure.
Hyperscale Companies Driving Connectivity Demand
According to company statements, Google has two subsea cables scheduled to land at the original CLS facility: the Firmina cable connecting the US to Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, and the Nuvem cable connecting to Portugal and Bermuda. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms, through its Edge Holdings subsidiary, plans to land its Anjana cable connecting to Spain at the new CLS.
“Demand for landing subsea cables in Myrtle Beach has been extraordinary, and the rapid addition of new carrier partners into MYR1 has significantly enhanced the facility’s connectivity ecosystem,” said Jeff Wabik, DC Blox CTO, in a statement obtained by reporters. “By preparing for MYR2, DC Blox is enabling new digital infrastructure development across the region by global hyperscale companies and ensuring continued growth of the Southeast’s digital economy.”
Regional Economic Impact and Future Development
The report states that DC Blox’s expansion aligns with broader regional technology infrastructure growth. The company operates facilities across Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, with additional facilities planned in High Point, North Carolina, and outside Atlanta, Georgia. The company recently announced plans for a new 45MW data center campus in South Carolina’s Berkeley County and is developing another CLS in Florida that will host Google’s upcoming Sol cable.
“The continued growth of DC Blox in our community is the vision presented by their leadership in 2021,” Sandy Davis, Myrtle Beach Regional EDC President & CEO, stated in documents reviewed. “DC Blox is an extraordinary company committed to providing technology services and community partnerships as promised.”
Broader Infrastructure and Economic Context
The expansion comes amid broader developments in subsea cable infrastructure and regional economic planning. While the Confluence-1 cable, set to run from New Jersey to Florida, is also expected to land in Myrtle Beach, sources indicate no official announcement about it landing at the CLS has been made yet.
This infrastructure growth occurs alongside other economic developments, including Federal Reserve policy discussions and stability risk assessments that could impact technology investment. The expansion also aligns with workforce stability trends noted in sectors like Canadian manufacturing and broader economic considerations such as projected tariff impacts.
Regional business expansion continues with companies like Uber expanding gig economy services and business organizations engaging with policy developments that could affect infrastructure investment. The DC Blox expansion represents significant continued investment in the digital infrastructure connecting regions including Washington, D.C. and broader Southeastern markets.
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Local officials have expressed strong support for the project, with Horry County representatives noting they are “excited to have DC Blox expand in Horry County and to house the largest facility of its kind on the Eastern Seaboard in our county.” The expansion reportedly follows initial indications from filings with the Horry County council last year, with the company now confirming its plans to purchase the additional site.
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