Meta has unveiled plans for Project Waterworth, a 50,000km (31,000 mile) submarine cable system that will span the globe. Upon completion, it will stand as the world’s longest underwater cable project, connecting the United States, India, South Africa, Brazil, and other regions.
The technology corporation behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp continues to diversify beyond social media platforms, expanding into artificial intelligence (AI) and the infrastructure supporting these technologies. Meta stated that this new cable initiative will deliver “industry-leading connectivity” across five major continents while bolstering its AI endeavours.
“This project will enable greater economic cooperation, facilitate digital inclusion, and open opportunities for technological development in these regions,” Meta explained in a blog post.
According to the company, the cable will utilize a 24 fiber-pair systemโmaking it the longest cable with such high capacity to date.
Submarine cables have grown increasingly vital as the primary conduit for rapid worldwide data transfer and digital service provision. A commonly referenced figure suggests underwater cables carry more than 95% of global internet traffic.
Telecommunications research firm TeleGeography reports over 600 publicly-known submarine cable systems currently exist worldwide. Among these is the Meta-backed 2Africa cable (supported by mobile operators including Orange, Vodafone, and China Mobile), which links three continents across 45,000km.
Major web service providers have made substantial investments in cable infrastructure. In 2024, Google announced plans to build the first submarine cable connecting Africa and Australia, while also committing $1 billion toward enhancing connectivity to Japan with two new Pacific Ocean submarine cables.
Telecommunications analyst Paolo Pescatore told the BBC that “Meta has shown a strong desire to own more of the connectivity slice.”
“This is a further demonstration as it seeks to leapfrog rivals in providing users with a unique experience by tightly integrating hardware, software, platform and its growing aspirations in connectivity,” he said. “Ultimately these moves, while welcome from an investment perspective, will raise further eyebrows among regulators and other key stakeholders given the increasing dominance of big tech.”
The growing importance of submarine cables has heightened concerns about their vulnerability to attacks or accidents. Following several cable severance incidents, experts have identified undersea communications infrastructure as an expanding arena for geopolitical tensions and conflict.
In January, NATO initiated a mission to increase surveillance of Baltic Sea vessels after damage to critical undersea cables last year. A UK parliamentary committee recently sought evidence regarding the country’s resilience against potential disruptions.
The committee noted increasing concern over “Russian and Chinese capabilities to hold undersea infrastructure at riskโparticularly during periods of heightened tension or conflict.”
In its Project Waterworth announcement, Meta indicated the cable system would be laid up to 7,000 meters deep, employing “enhanced burial techniques in high-risk fault areas, such as shallow waters near the coast, to avoid damage from ship anchors and other hazards.”
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