Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced a new undersea cable projectspanning five continents to enhance data transmission and support artificial intelligence (AI) development. The cable, named Project Waterworth, will stretch over 50,000 kilometers, connecting the US, South Africa, India, Brazil, and other regions.
Undersea cables are essential for global digital communication, with an estimated 1.2 million kilometers already in place worldwide. Traditionally managed by telecom providers, major tech companies like Meta and Google have increasingly invested in their own networks to meet rising data demands.
Meta describes Project Waterworth as a multi-billion-dollar, multi-year investment, adding to its growing portfolio of undersea infrastructure. The company’s first privately owned cable, Anjana, linking the US and Spain, is set to go live this year.
These large-scale investments are crucial for ensuring network resilience, as undersea cables are vulnerable to natural disasters, human activities, and potential sabotage. With around 200 cable damage incidents annually, tech giants are building multiple high-capacity connections to ensure uninterrupted global data flow.
Beyond connectivity, Meta highlights that high-speed data transmission is essential for AI innovation, particularly for training AI models and managing real-time user interactions. As AI demands continue to grow, companies like Meta, Google, and Microsoft are leveraging their data centers and network infrastructure to maintain a competitive edge in the evolving digital landscape.
