Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, plans to invest over ten billion dollars on a huge underwater cable project. This new infrastructure is intended to satisfy the expanding needs of its billions of users and improve AI-powered services. The proposed 40,000-kilometer fiber-optic cable will be a big move for Meta, as it will be the project’s sole owner and operator for the first time.
Meta’s Drive for Robust Connectivity
Meta, as one of the world’s largest internet usage drivers, handles a significant part of worldwide digital traffic. The corporation generates 10% of fixed internet traffic and 22% of mobile traffic. With a growing emphasis on artificial intelligence, the demand for data capacity will only increase. To ensure that its infrastructure can handle these demands, Meta is taking a risk by investing in a new subsea cable.
A Global Cable Project with a $10B Investment
Sources have confirmed that Meta is planning a subsea cable that will stretch globally. Initially, the budget for this cable project was set at $2 billion, but it is expected to grow significantly as the work progresses. The final cost could surpass $10 billion as the cable reaches its full scale. The new infrastructure will allow Meta to have dedicated, reliable data traffic routes, reducing its reliance on third-party providers.
The Cable Route and Future Challenges
The proposed subsea cable will form a “W” shape around the world. It will connect the east coast of the United States to India via South Africa, then continue to the west coast of the United States via Australia. While Meta has not confirmed the specific route or capacity, sources predict an official announcement in early 2025.
However, the initiative confronts resource and availability constraints. Subsea cable firms like SubCom, which are capable of constructing such infrastructure, have already committed to huge customers like Google. Furthermore, with cable ships in great demand and booked for several years, Meta may need to construct the line in segments.
Meta’s Future Strategy
This subsea cable project is an important milestone in Meta’s long-term infrastructure strategy. As its user base and AI-powered services expand, the company hopes to safeguard its data traffic and maintain reliable connectivity. This global connection is expected to take years to fully operationalize, but it might help Meta preserve its digital dominance.
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