Tech giant Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced plans to lay a 50,000-kilometer undersea cable spanning five continents to support global data transmission and fuel the growth of artificial intelligence (AI).
The ambitious project, dubbed “Project Waterworth,” will connect the United States, South Africa, India, Brazil, and other regions, marking a multi-billion-dollar, multi-year investment aimed at enhancing the reliability and speed of global digital communication.
Expanding the World’s Digital Infrastructure
Meta’s announcement underscores the increasing role of tech giants in subsea cable infrastructure, a field traditionally dominated by specialist firms such as SubCom (US), ASN (France), NEC (Japan), and HMN (China).
According to a 2024 report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), global digital communication relies on approximately 1.2 million kilometers of undersea cables, which are essential for the seamless flow of data across continents.
Meta stated that the new cable system aims to “strengthen the scale and reliability of the world’s digital highways” while ensuring the “abundant, high-speed connectivity needed to drive AI innovation.”
AI’s Growing Demand for Data
Meta’s explicit mention of AI development as a key driver behind this project highlights the technology’s insatiable demand for data, which is expected to significantly increase global digital traffic in the coming years.
AI-powered applications—ranging from large language models to autonomous systems—require massive volumes of real-time data, making high-speed, stable international networks more critical than ever.
Security and Geopolitical Concerns
The installation and maintenance of undersea cables come with operational and geopolitical challenges. These cables are vulnerable to accidental damage caused by underwater landslides, tsunamis, or ship anchors.
Additionally, undersea infrastructure has become a target for sabotage and espionage. In January 2024, NATO launched special patrols in the Baltic Sea following suspected attacks on telecom and power cables, which experts and politicians have blamed on Russia.
To mitigate such risks, companies and governments are increasingly strengthening security protocols around subsea data networks.
The Future of Digital Connectivity
Meta’s latest investment reflects the broader trend of tech corporations expanding their control over global digital infrastructure. With AI and digital services becoming more data-intensive, the demand for faster and more resilient networks will continue to grow.
As Meta moves forward with Project Waterworth, the initiative is set to play a key role in shaping the future of global internet connectivity, AI innovation, and international data exchange.
