Washington, US, July 4, 2024 (Lusa) - Google has applied to the US regulator for a licence to build a 6,900-kilometre submarine fibre-optic cable, which will be anchored in the Azores and Sines, claiming it will be the first direct link between the United States and Portugal. The EllaLink cable is not merely a collection of wires resting on the ocean floor; it is a sophisticated engineering feat designed to facilitate high-capacity, low-latency data transfer between Europe and South America. A project that will cover more than 400,000 homes in various inland regions, resulting in coverage of the entire continental territory by 2026/2027.