Meta confirms ‘Project Waterworth,’ a global subsea cable project spanning 50,000 kilometers
TechCrunch6 days ago
Meta Unveils World's Longest Subsea Cable Project
Above: The Meta Platforms logo appears on a MacBook in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 10, 2025. Image copyright: Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Facts
Meta has announced plans to construct a 50K-kilometer submarine cable system that will be the world's longest, surpassing the company's previous record-holding 2Africa cable spanning 45K kilometers, in a design dubbed Project Waterworth.
The cable system will connect five continents, with confirmed landing points in the US, India, Brazil, and South Africa, utilizing 24 fiber pairs compared to the typical 8-to-16 pairs in other systems.
Project Waterworth will be deployed at depths of up to 7K meters and incorporate enhanced burial techniques in high-risk areas near coastlines to protect against damage from ship anchors and other hazards.
The Spin
Narrative A
This project will strengthen global digital infrastructure by opening three new oceanic corridors with abundant, high-speed connectivity needed to drive AI innovation worldwide. The cable system will enable greater economic cooperation, facilitate digital inclusion, and create opportunities for technological development in connected regions. This infrastructure expansion is crucial, as AI continues to transform industries and societies globally.
Narrative B
The shift from traditional telecom companies to tech giants building their own cable infrastructure raises concerns about market concentration in digital markets. Large technology companies are increasingly controlling critical communication infrastructure independently, which may have significant implications for policy makers and digital market competition.