(Telecompaper) Microsoft announced plans to invest in three undersea cables to help improve connectivity for its data centres in North America. Microsoft is investing in cables in cooperation with Hibernia and Aqua Comms to connect its data centre infrastructure from North America to Ireland and on to the UK. Additionally, it joined a consortium comprised of China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Chunghwa Telecom and KT, with TE SubCom as the cable supplier. This will be Microsoft's first physical landing station in the US, connecting North America to Asia. The New Cross Pacific (NCP) Cable Network will provide faster data connections for customers and aid Microsoft in competing on cloud costs, the company said.