Meta, the tech behemoth behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has revealed plans to build a monumental 50,000km (31,000 miles) sub-sea internet cable that will span the globe. This ambitious initiative, known as Project Waterworth, will link the US, India, South Africa, Brazil, and several other regions, marking it as the world’s longest underwater cable project when completed.
In a bid to extend its technological footprint beyond the realm of social media, Meta is investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) and the infrastructure necessary to support it. The company’s latest cable project aims to provide “industry-leading connectivity” to five major continents, facilitating Meta’s AI ambitions and enhancing global digital inclusion.
Meta’s statement on the project highlighted that it would “enable greater economic co-operation, facilitate digital inclusion, and open opportunities for technological development in these regions.” Furthermore, the cable will be the longest of its kind to employ a 24 fibre-pair system, providing a higher capacity compared to previous subsea cables.
Sub-sea cables have become an indispensable part of the global communications network, transferring vast amounts of data and supporting the fast-paced digital services that the world relies on. In fact, it’s estimated that more than 95% of the world’s internet traffic is carried through these underwater cables, underlining their importance.
TeleGeography, a leading telecommunications market research firm, states that there are currently over 600 publicly-known sub-sea cable systems operating globally. Notable among these is the 2Africa cable, which is backed by Meta along with mobile network giants like Orange, Vodafone, and China Mobile. This cable connects three continents and stretches over 45,000km.
As tech companies increasingly dominate the digital landscape, many have turned their attention to investing in sub-sea cable infrastructure. For example, in 2024, Google announced plans to build the first-ever sub-sea cable connecting Africa and Australia. Google also pledged a $1 billion investment to enhance connectivity to Japan through two new Pacific Ocean cables.
Professor Vili Lehdonvirta from the Oxford Internet Institute notes that the shift in the financing and construction of these cables marks a significant change in the industry. Previously, such large-scale infrastructure projects were primarily undertaken by national telecommunications firms, but now major tech firms have the financial muscle to invest in their own cables independently. This shift could have implications for policy-making, particularly concerning market concentration and the influence of tech giants on global infrastructure.
For Paolo Pescatore, a telecoms and technology industry analyst, Meta’s latest project underscores the company’s ambitions. “Meta has shown a strong desire to own more of the connectivity slice,” he says, noting that the project highlights the firm’s strategy to tightly integrate its hardware, software, and platform. This, he believes, is part of Meta’s broader effort to leapfrog its competitors and deliver a unique user experience.
However, the increasing reliance on sub-sea cables has also raised concerns about their vulnerability to disruptions. With the growing importance of underwater communications, experts have warned that these cables are increasingly becoming a target for geopolitical tensions. A recent UK parliamentary committee even called for evidence on the nation’s resilience to potential disruptions, pointing out concerns over the security of undersea infrastructure, particularly in the face of rising tensions between countries like Russia and China.
Meta has addressed some of these concerns in its announcement, stating that Project Waterworth’s cable will be laid at depths of up to 7,000 meters. In areas where the cable is more exposed, such as near coastlines or in shallow waters, Meta plans to employ enhanced burial techniques to protect the infrastructure from potential damage caused by ship anchors or other hazards.
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Professor Lehdonvirta also noted that the cable route seems to intentionally avoid certain geopolitical hotspots, including Europe and China, choosing instead to focus on regions less prone to political instability. The exclusion of such areas may reflect a strategic decision to steer clear of potential conflict zones such as the Suez Canal or the South China Sea, which have historically been fraught with tensions.
This careful route planning could also be seen as a way to bolster the US’s economic and infrastructural power abroad, particularly in contested markets in the Southern Hemisphere. By connecting the US to key markets in Africa, South America, and Asia, Meta could potentially enhance its influence on global trade and digital infrastructure.
As Project Waterworth begins to take shape, it will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the global digital landscape, improving connectivity, boosting economic collaboration, and enabling technological advancements in regions that were previously underserved. With a price tag likely to run into billions of dollars, Meta’s venture into the sub-sea cable industry further underscores the company’s determination to solidify its position as a dominant force in the future of digital connectivity.
