Meta Confirms Building Its Own Undersea Cable

Meta, previously known as Facebook, is currently developing its own submarine cable to facilitate digital data transmission across oceans.

Meta’s Bold Project: Connecting Five Continents

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, confirmed today its plans for the previously rumored “Project Waterworth,” a submarine cable stretching over 50,000 km designed to connect five continents. This marks Meta’s first venture into owning its own submarine cable infrastructure, although it has been involved in similar projects before.

Cutting-Edge Technology for an Extraordinary Project

Project Waterworth stands out not just for its immense scale but also for its innovation. According to Meta, it will be the world’s longest cable featuring 24 fiber pairs. The company is employing a unique routing method to lay the cables at depths of up to 7,000 meters to avoid damage from underwater hazards, such as ships dropping and dragging anchors.

Significant Impact on Global Internet Traffic

While Meta has not provided specific details on the cable’s usage, it emphasized that submarine cables facilitate digital communication, video experiences, online transactions, and more. The high-speed connection also significantly benefits AI innovation. Notably, Meta’s services and platforms account for about 10% of the world’s fixed internet use and 22% of mobile traffic, ensuring that its existing operations will greatly benefit from a stable connection.

The Project Backed by India

The Project Waterworth extends beyond Meta, with India also announcing financial support for the initiative. India has committed to funding, maintaining, and repairing the sections of the cable that cross the Indian Ocean, according to a joint US-India statement released following Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States.