3 6 Ke·2025-11-13 23:31Core Insights - The article discusses the increasing investment by tech giants like Google and Amazon in undersea cables, highlighting their importance for global internet infrastructure and economic development [1][6][14]. Group 1: Investment in Undersea Cables - Google and Amazon are heavily investing in undersea cable projects, with Amazon's "Fastnet" project connecting Maryland, USA, to Cork, Ireland, expected to be operational by 2028 [1]. - Google has signed an agreement with the Chilean government to build a 14,800 km undersea cable connecting Valparaíso, Chile, to Sydney, Australia, with an estimated investment of $300 million to $550 million [2]. - As of November 2025, Google will have invested in or constructed a total of 33 undersea cables, including 6 private ones [3]. Group 2: Strategic Importance of Undersea Cables - Undersea cables are crucial for global internet traffic, carrying over 95% of international data, making them essential for services like video calls and online shopping [1]. - The performance of existing undersea cables is outdated, with the oldest still in service since 1989, prompting tech companies to invest in new technologies for better performance [6][8]. - Amazon's Fastnet cable is designed with a capacity of at least 320 Tb/s, capable of transmitting 12.5 million HD movies per second, showcasing the technological advancements being implemented [8]. Group 3: Economic and Competitive Advantages - Building their own undersea cables allows companies to optimize costs, enhance performance, and gain strategic control over their networks, reducing reliance on third-party bandwidth [8][14]. - Meta's Waterworth project, with an investment of $10 billion, aims to create the world's longest undersea cable, further emphasizing the competitive landscape among tech giants [5]. - The rise of artificial intelligence is increasing the demand for reliable undersea cables, as AI applications require massive data transfers, making high-performance cables a necessity for operational efficiency [9][12]. Group 4: Shift in Industry Dynamics - Traditionally, undersea cables were owned by telecom operators, but tech companies are now becoming direct owners, changing the dynamics of internet infrastructure ownership [15][16]. - This shift allows tech giants to control data flow and infrastructure, positioning them as key players in the digital economy [17][19]. - The competition for dominance in undersea cable construction is seen as a critical factor in determining future advantages in the digital technology sector [18][20].