Meta confirms ‘Project Waterworth,' a global subsea cable project spanning 50,000km

Core Insights - Meta has officially announced Project Waterworth, a subsea cable project that will span 50,000 kilometers, making it the world's longest subsea cable project [2][3] - The project aims to enhance Meta's control over its services and is expected to connect five continents, with significant focus on opportunities in India and the rollout of AI services globally [3][8] Project Details - Project Waterworth will utilize 24 fiber pair cables and innovative routing techniques to maximize cable deployment in deep waters, reaching depths of up to 7,000 meters [4] - New burial techniques will be employed to minimize faults in high-risk areas, influenced by geographical and political factors [4][5] Geopolitical Context - The project aligns with a U.S.-India defense partnership, which includes commitments to co-develop undersea technologies, with India playing a role in financing the project [6][7] - The White House statement highlighted Meta's multi-billion dollar investment in the undersea cable project, emphasizing the importance of Indian Ocean connectivity [7] Applications and Impact - The subsea cable is expected to support digital communication, video experiences, and online transactions, facilitating the growth of AI data centers and cloud services in India [8][9] - Meta's investment in this project is part of a broader strategy to strengthen global digital infrastructure and drive AI innovation [9] Competitive Landscape - This project marks Meta's first wholly owned subsea cable, positioning it alongside other tech giants like Google, which has ownership in multiple routes, while companies like Amazon and Microsoft are involved as capacity buyers [10][11]