In a groundbreaking move to enhance global digital connectivity, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced Project Waterworth, an ambitious initiative to construct the world’s longest undersea internet cable. Spanning over 50,000 kilometers—surpassing the Earth’s circumference of approximately 40,075 kilometers—the cable aims to link the United States, India, Brazil, South Africa, and other regions across five continents.
The multi-billion-dollar project is slated for completion by the end of the decade and is designed to bolster internet infrastructure to support emerging technologies, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). By opening three new oceanic corridors, Project Waterworth seeks to provide abundant, high-speed connectivity essential for AI innovation worldwide. This initiative is poised to significantly impact regions like India, accelerating digital progress and supporting the country’s ambitious plans for its digital economy.
The undersea cable will feature a state-of-the-art architecture comprising 24 fiber pairs, a substantial increase from the traditional 8 to 16 pairs, thereby enhancing data transmission capacity and reliability. To ensure resilience, the cable will be laid at depths reaching up to 7,000 meters and will employ advanced burial techniques in high-risk areas, such as shallow near-shore waters, to mitigate potential damage from ship anchors and other external factors.
This venture marks Meta’s first fully owned undersea cable project, positioning the company alongside tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, who have also invested in submarine cable infrastructure. Over the past decade, Meta has participated in more than 20 undersea cable projects in collaboration with various partners. However, Project Waterworth represents a strategic shift towards exclusive ownership, granting Meta greater control over its digital infrastructure to meet the growing demands of its services, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The project has garnered political support, notably from U.S. President Donald Trump and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a joint statement, the leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing Indian Ocean connectivity and welcomed Meta’s substantial investment in the undersea cable project. This collaboration underscores the significance of global digital highways in fostering economic cooperation and technological advancement.
As the backbone of global internet traffic—handling over 95% of intercontinental data—undersea cables are critical to modern communication and commerce. Project Waterworth is expected to not only improve internet speeds and reliability across connected regions but also to facilitate economic growth, digital inclusion, and technological innovation on a global scale.
Sources:
- WIRED
- Business Insider
- The Guardian
- Sky News
- Meta Engineering Blog
- YouTube Video: “Inside Meta’s $10B Plan to Build the Longest Subsea Cable in History”
