On February 17, Meta announced Project Waterworth, a 50,000 km sub sea internet cable system connecting the US, India, South Africa, and Brazil, to optimize global connectivity and support the Big Tech giant’s AI initiatives, according to The Guardian.
Meta’s internet sea cables will deliver industry-leading connectivity across five continents with a 24 fiber-pair system that boosts capacity, speeds up data transfer, and expands digital services access.
Meta’s deep sea internet cables reflect its commitment to economic cooperation, digital inclusion, and regional technological development, while also advancing AI and infrastructure projects.
With its internet cable under the sea, Meta is reinforcing its role in strengthening technological infrastructure beyond social media. As reliable internet access becomes a bigger necessity, the more this sea internet cable project will position Meta as a key player in the industry.
The Critical Role of Under Sea Internet Cables
The importance of a sub-sea internet cable lies in global internet operations, since it carries over 95% of the world’s internet traffic. Currently, there are more than 600 systems for undersea cables for internet, and Meta is highly involved in other large projects, such as the 2Africa cable, which spans 45,000 km and connects three continents.
The Waterworth project will surpass large global cables in length and capacity, boosting global connectivity.
Meta’s sub sea internet cable venture aligns with Big Tech’s push to invest heavily in digital infrastructure. Google, for example, is building the first sub-sea cable to link Africa and Australia, apart from investing in cables to increase connectivity to Japan.
The shift from national telecom companies to private tech companies funding sub sea internet cable projects is mind blowing, especially that experts see this as a sign of tech giants’ financial power and strategic influence, with Meta leading the way.
“Over the past decade there has been a shift in which these cables are increasingly laid by large technology companies,” Professor Vili Lehdonvirta of the Oxford Internet Institute told the BBC.
Meta’s Sea-Internet Cable Impact
Meta’s role in the Waterworth project is a turning point for global connectivity while backing its AI ambitions.
The world’s longest sub sea internet cable will revolutionize digital infrastructure, enhancing data transfer and internet services’ reliability. Under sea internet cables will also give more dominance for tech giants leading to an increased impact on the future of internet, so how will Meta handle being the leader in both connectivity and AI?
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