Meta Announces World's Longest Sub-Sea Cable Project
Meta has unveiled plans to construct a 50,000km (31,000 mile) sub-sea cable network, which will be the longest underwater cable project ever built. Named Project Waterworth, the initiative aims to connect key regions including the US, India, South Africa, and Brazil.The tech giant, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is expanding its technological infrastructure beyond social media, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and the connectivity needed to support it. Meta stated that the new cable system will provide "industry-leading connectivity" across five major continents, supporting both internet access and AI-driven projects.
Project Waterworth will be the longest cable to use a 24 fibre-pair system, allowing for a significantly higher data capacity than existing networks, according to Meta.
Sub-sea cables play a crucial role in global digital services by enabling rapid data transmission. It is estimated that more than 95% of the world's internet traffic flows through undersea cables.
According to telecommunications research firm TeleGeography, there are currently over 600 publicly-known sub-sea cable systems worldwide. Among them is the 2Africa cable, which spans 45,000km and is backed by Meta in partnership with operators like Orange, Vodafone, and China Mobile.
Other major tech firms have also invested heavily in sub-sea cable infrastructure. Google announced in 2024 its plans to build the first cable linking Africa and Australia, along with a $1 billion investment to enhance connectivity in Japan through two new Pacific Ocean cables.
Meta's Project Waterworth is expected to further expand global internet connectivity and enhance the digital infrastructure needed for future technological advancements.
