-To Connect Global Internet Infrastructure
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is reportedly embarking on a groundbreaking US$10 billion project to build a 25,000-mile underwater fibre-optic cable system to circle the globe.
Sources indicate Meta would retain full ownership of the cable’s capacity, a significant shift in the competitive telecommunications landscape.
The initiative, reportedly spearheaded by Meta’s South Africa office, is still in the early planning stages, with specific capacity details and routes yet to be disclosed. The cable’s design aims to strategically bypass geopolitical hotspots such as the Red Sea and South China Sea and congestion points in Egypt, Marseilles, and the Straits of Malacca, enhancing reliability and reducing single points of failure.
Entrepreneur Sunil Tagare, who first highlighted the project, estimates initial costs at US$2 billion, potentially escalating to US$10 billion over the next decade due to rising infrastructure demands. The cable is expected to connect the U.S. East Coast to India, with stops in South Africa and Australia for restoration and maintenance purposes, capitalizing on India’s cost-effective data centre operations.
Meta already has stakes in major submarine cables, such as the 2Africa project, which spans Africa’s coastline. However, this ambitious venture would position Meta as the sole proprietor of a critical piece of internet infrastructure.
The project underscores growing investments by tech giants in underwater cable systems. Google currently owns 17 submarine cables, while Amazon and Microsoft hold shares in several others. As digital connectivity needs surge, this endeavour could redefine global data transmission infrastructure and Meta’s role within it.
With limited resources like cable ships, the project is anticipated to take several years to complete. Meta has yet to comment on the specifics of the initiative or its potential implications for AI applications, but the strategic placement of cables highlights a focus on durability and security amid geopolitical uncertainties.
