Mon, 17 Feb 2025

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 Meta plans globe-spanning sub-sea internet cable

It is the latest move from Meta to invest more in global connectivity rather than its apps.
Meta plans to build the world's longest underwater cable, known as Project Waterworth, which will stretch approximately 50,000km across five major continents including the US, India, South Africa, and Brazil. The project aims to provide "industry-leading connectivity" and support Meta's AI projects, enabling greater economic cooperation, digital inclusion, and technological development in these regions. The cable will use a 24 fibre-pair system, giving it a higher capacity than existing cables. Sub-sea cables have become crucial for transferring data worldwide at speed, with over 95% of the world's internet traffic passing through them. Meta has invested heavily in underwater infrastructure, including the 2Africa cable, which links three continents and spans 45,000km. The project reflects the growing size and position of big tech firms to fund such infrastructure independently, raising concerns about concentration in digital markets.
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