AWS Opens Physical Data Upload Outlets

Amazon Launches Data Transfer Terminal Service

During the re:Invent 2024 conference held in Las Vegas, Amazon unveiled a novel service for Amazon Web Services (AWS) users: Data Transfer Terminal. This service provides physical facilities where customers can directly connect storage devices to facilitate data uploads to the AWS cloud.

How the Service Operates

The process begins with reserving a time slot through the AWS management console. Customers can also optionally designate data transfer specialists from their teams to oversee the upload process. Subsequently, they visit a Data Transfer Terminal location to initiate the data transfer.

According to Channy Yun, a principal developer advocate at AWS, upon arrival, customers confirm access with building reception. Building personnel will then escort them to their reserved room within the Data Transfer Terminal facility. The deliberate absence of AWS signage is a security measure designed to maintain the confidentiality of the work environment.

Initial Locations and Equipment

Currently, the initial Data Transfer Terminal locations are situated in New York City and Los Angeles. Amazon plans to expand the availability of these locations in the future. Each facility is equipped with essential infrastructure, including a patch panel, fiber optic cabling, and a dedicated PC for monitoring data transfer progress.

Benefits and Speed

The primary advantage of Data Transfer Terminal lies in its capacity to deliver exceptionally fast upload speeds, reaching up to 400 Gbps. This is achieved through a secure, high-throughput network connection. This offers a solution for transferring large datasets efficiently.

Cost Structure

Utilization of the Data Transfer Terminal service incurs a cost. Amazon employs a “per port hour” pricing model for reserved port usage, applicable even during periods of inactivity.

As detailed on an Amazon support page, customers are billed for the total duration of their reservation, calculated on a per-port basis. Charges are applied to each port utilized or requested as part of the reservation.

Pricing Details

The per-port charges are differentiated based on the destination of the data transfer. Transfers within the U.S. (to a U.S.-based AWS data center) are priced at $300 per port hour. Transfers to the European Union (EU) are charged at $500 per port hour. Pricing for data transfers to other global regions is currently not publicly listed.