Meta unveils ambitious plan for world’s longest sub-sea internet cable

Tech giant Meta has announced an ambitious plan to construct a 50,000-kilometer (31,000-mile) sub-sea cable network, which will become the longest underwater cable project in history. Named Project Waterworth, the initiative aims to connect key global regions, including the United States, India, South Africa, and Brazil, among others.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has been expanding its focus beyond social media, investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure. The company stated that its new cable project will provide “industry-leading connectivity” across five continents while also supporting its AI-driven advancements. Meta emphasized that the initiative will promote economic cooperation, digital inclusion, and technological development in the connected regions.

The cable will utilize a 24-fiber-pair system, making it the longest and one of the highest-capacity cables ever built. Underwater fiber-optic cables have become essential in global communication, carrying over 95% of the world’s internet traffic. With the rapid growth of cloud computing, AI, and digital services, tech firms are investing heavily in strengthening the global data transfer infrastructure.

Meta is not new to large-scale cable projects, having previously co-funded the 2Africa cable, a 45,000-kilometer system linking three continents in partnership with major telecom providers such as Orange, Vodafone, and China Mobile. 

The telecommunications landscape has shifted in recent years, with large technology companies taking the lead in funding and deploying undersea cables. In the past, these projects were typically financed and managed by national telecommunications firms due to the massive investment required. However, major tech companies now have the financial power to fund such infrastructure independently, strengthening their influence over global connectivity.

Google has also been aggressively investing in undersea cable networks. In 2024, the company announced plans to construct the first sub-sea cable linking Africa and Australia, alongside a $1 billion investment in two new cables in the Pacific Ocean to improve connectivity with Japan.

Professor Vili Lehdonvirta of the Oxford Internet Institute noted that this shift in ownership raises questions for policymakers concerned with market concentration and the growing power of big tech firms. Meanwhile, telecom and technology analyst Paolo Pescatore highlighted Meta’s increasing ambition to control its own connectivity infrastructure, positioning itself ahead of rivals by integrating hardware, software, and digital platforms.

While sub-sea cables are essential for global communication, their increasing strategic importance has also made them vulnerable to security threats. Recent incidents of severed cables have fueled concerns about the risk of geopolitical conflicts disrupting critical digital infrastructure.

NATO launched a mission in January to enhance surveillance of ships in the Baltic Sea after damage to key undersea cables last year. In the UK, a parliamentary committee has been investigating national resilience against potential threats to its underwater communication systems, particularly amid growing concerns about Russia and China’s capabilities to target such infrastructure in times of geopolitical tension.

As the demand for high-speed, reliable internet continues to grow, Project Waterworth represents a major step in reshaping the future of digital connectivity while also raising questions about the evolving power dynamics in the global internet infrastructure landscape.