Meta's Ambitious $10 Billion Undersea Internet Cable Project

Meta, the parent company of popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is planning to create a global undersea fiber optic internet cable network. According to recent reports, the company is set to announce its plan early next year.

The ambitious project aims to lay over 25,000 miles of underwater fiber optic cables, with an estimated cost exceeding $10 billion. Sources familiar with the plan have revealed that the cables will be privately owned and operated by Meta, which currently represents around 22% of all mobile internet traffic.

Following the proposed route, the cables are expected to connect the East Coast of the United States to India via South Africa, then from India to Australia and back to the West Coast of the United States. This extensive network could provide significant benefits for Meta by improving its internet infrastructure.

Experts indicate that there are numerous challenges ahead for Meta, including the need to secure partnerships with companies that specialize in laying undersea cables. The supply of cable ships is currently limited, making the process costly and complicated. "There’s a real tight supply on cable ships," said Ranulf Scarborough, an analyst in the submarine cable industry. "They’re expensive at the minute and booked out several years ahead. Finding the available resources to do it soon is a challenge."

Once completed, Meta's cables would represent the first privately owned global fiber optic cable system. While other big tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have stakes in various global cable systems, none currently own a private line outright.

This move by Meta could be motivated by several factors. One significant reason is to better manage the vast amount of internet traffic generated by its services while relying less on traditional telecom companies. Additionally, the rise of geopolitical tensions and the risk of disruption to existing subsea cables may have pushed Meta toward this significant investment.

Recent incidents highlight these concerns; for instance, a cable was recently severed in European waters, leading Sweden to request cooperation from China to investigate the incident. The planned cable route by Meta is reported to intentionally avoid areas of geopolitical tension to minimize risks associated with such conflicts.

Further, U.S. national security officials have warned tech companies, including Meta and Google, about potential threats to undersea internet cables from foreign-controlled ships. In response, the FCC has announced a comprehensive review of submarine cable licensing rules to enhance the security of vital infrastructure.

It is important to note that Meta's undersea cable project is still in its early planning stages and will require years of development and coordination.

Meta, Internet, Cables