Meta Plans Globe-Spanning Subsea Internet Cable

Meta has announced plans to build a 50,000-kilometer (31,000-mile) subsea cable connecting multiple continents, Liv McMahon reported for BBC News.

Meta said the cable will also be the longest ever built using a 24-fiber-pair system, giving it a higher capacity than any previous subsea network. I Photo: VisbyStar Wikimedia Commons

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The tech giant said Project Waterworth—which will link the U.S., India, South Africa, Brazil, and other regions—will be the world’s longest underwater cable project upon completion.

Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has been expanding its focus beyond social media, investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and global digital infrastructure.

“This project will enable greater economic cooperation, facilitate digital inclusion, and open opportunities for technological development in these regions,” Meta said in a blog post.

According to the company, Project Waterworth will provide "industry-leading connectivity" across five major continents and support its AI initiatives.

A Meta illustration of the project depicts a thick blue line connecting locations in the U.S., South America, Africa, India, and Australia.

The multi-billion-dollar venture aims to enhance connectivity along the world's "digital highways." The cable will also be the longest ever built using a 24-fiber-pair system, giving it a higher capacity than any previous subsea network, according to Meta.