Meta’s Subsea Cable: A $10 Billion Investment in Global Connectivity

Meta is planning to undertake a major initiative to enhance its global infrastructure. Industry insiders report that Meta intends to build an extensive subsea fiber-optic cable, extending over 40,000 kilometers, with an investment potentially surpassing $10 billion.

This upcoming project is a significant achievement for Meta, marking its first entirely owned and operated subsea cable. Unlike its earlier partnerships, like the 2Africa cable co-managed with telecom leaders such as Vodafone and Orange, this new endeavor positions Meta as the exclusive owner and operator of the cable, indicating its desire to gain more control over its data infrastructure.

Enhancing infrastructure is essential to accommodate increasing demand. Meta ranks as the second-largest contributor to global internet traffic, representing 10% of fixed internet usage and 22% of mobile data traffic. As the company enhances its artificial intelligence features and improves its platforms, the necessity for dependable and high-capacity data infrastructure has increased.

The forthcoming subsea cable aims to fulfill these requirements by providing Meta with a dedicated channel to oversee its worldwide data traffic. The project will create a “W” shape globally, connecting the U.S. East Coast to India via South Africa, then returning to the U.S. West Coast through India and Australia.

A long-term perspective comes with significant stakes. Although details are still being finalized, sources related to Meta suggest that the company will formally unveil the project, its planned route, and more specifics by early 2025. Constructing such a vast cable will demand several years of effort, especially considering the limited number of firms capable of building subsea cables, with SubCom being one notable example that already has long-term obligations with clients like Google.

“It’s a challenging period for the subsea cable sector,” commented Ranulf Scarborough, a submarine cable expert. “The demand for cable-laying ships is exceeding supply, leading to resource scarcity and increased costs. Building a project of this magnitude might need to occur in stages to navigate these challenges.”

Meta is now among the major technology companies investing in subsea infrastructure. While Meta has previously participated in various subsea networks, this marks its first independent endeavor, placing it on par with Google, which owns several regional routes. Other significant tech firms like Amazon and Microsoft hold substantial interests in subsea cables but do not possess routes outright.

Meta’s approach signifies a transition in subsea infrastructure ownership from classic telecom consortia to technology leaders. With this venture, Meta seeks to lessen its dependence on shared networks, promoting greater control over data transfers, improved security, and enhanced performance for its vast user base.

Leading infrastructure development with global repercussions. Reports indicate that Meta’s South Africa operations are spearheading the project, supervised by Santosh Janardhan, who serves as Meta’s global head of infrastructure and co-head of engineering. For over 40 years, fiber-optic subsea cables have been fundamental to global communications, yet Meta’s initiative heralds a new era of substantial investment and ownership in this vital infrastructure by tech companies.

As demand for digital services increases and technology advances, Meta’s subsea cable is poised to significantly impact the future of worldwide connectivity. This initiative not only highlights Meta’s dedication to scaling its operations but also raises concerns about the changing control dynamics of the internet’s core infrastructure as technology giants ramp up their investments in its evolution.