Meta plans $10B global subsea cable

The cable route has been carefully planned to avoid geopolitical hotspots such as the Red Sea and South China Sea, areas vulnerable to disruptions 

Meta, the umbrella company for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is embarking on a groundbreaking infrastructure project to build a 40,000-kilometer fibre-optic subsea cable. This ambitious endeavour marks a significant milestone as Meta’s first fully owned and operated subsea cable system. Estimated to exceed $10 billion in cost, the cable will connect key regions across the globe, including the United States, South Africa, India, and Australia.

The project underscores Meta’s commitment to supporting its internet and AI-driven growth. With Meta accounting for 10% of global fixed and 22% of mobile internet traffic, this investment reflects its need for robust infrastructure to maintain quality service for billions of users. The subsea cable will provide a dedicated "pipe" for Meta's data traffic, ensuring seamless delivery of content and services.

Meta’s cable route is strategically designed to bypass geopolitical hotspots like the Red Sea and South China Sea, areas prone to disruptions due to geopolitical tensions. By avoiding these vulnerabilities, the cable aims to enhance global connectivity and stability.

While plans are in early stages, with no physical assets laid yet, Meta is expected to disclose more details by early 2025, including the cable's capacity and specific routing. Building such a massive cable presents logistical challenges. Subsea cable manufacturers and ships are in high demand, and the process is likely to span years, with construction potentially occurring in segments.

This move mirrors a broader trend among tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, which have shifted from relying on telecom consortiums to directly owning and managing their subsea networks. Meta already co-owns several cables, including the 2Africa cable, but this would mark its first solo venture.

Experts speculate that the cable’s landing in India could tie into Meta’s AI ambitions. India, with its cost-efficient compute infrastructure and rapidly growing data centre market, is positioned as a potential hub for AI training. India is also Meta’s largest market, boasting over 536 million WhatsApp users, 375 million Facebook users, and 363 million Instagram users.

Through this ambitious project, Meta aims to solidify its position as a leader in global connectivity, while fuelling advancements in AI and catering to emerging markets’ digital growth.