Global tech giant Meta intends to construct a $10 billion underwater cable network, prioritizing its own services.
Meta Announces $10 Billion Super Long Undersea Cable Project
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and potential metaverse applications, has announced plans for a new super long undersea cable project, dubbed the "W" project. With an estimated cost of $10 billion, this ambitious endeavour aims to significantly boost connectivity and bandwidth across targeted regions.
The W project, while details are still limited, appears to be on a similar scale as the 2Africa cable, a 45,000 km system encircling Africa to connect 33 countries with high-speed internet. This project, slated for completion by 2024–2025, demonstrates Meta's strategic push to enhance digital infrastructure, particularly in regions with growing internet demand.
Unlike the 2Africa cable, which is a consortium effort involving companies like China Mobile, Orange, and Vodafone, the W project is a solo effort by Meta. This means the cable will not offer preferential treatment for Meta's services, unlike the 2Africa cable.
The W project is expected to take approximately 5000 kilometers less than the current largest undersea cable, the 2Africa cable. The planned fiber-optic cable will span over 40,000 kilometers globally, connecting the U.S. East Coast to India via South Africa and returning to the U.S. West Coast through Australia.
The route of the W project has been designed to avoid geopolitical hotspots, including the Red Sea and South China Sea. The exact locations that the W project will connect are not specified yet.
Meta's W project is currently in its early stages of development, with detailed information set to be revealed in early 2025. The company plans to build a super long undersea cable that it will fully own, allowing it to prioritize its own services.
The potential impact of the W project on internet connectivity and data transmission is yet to be fully understood, but it is expected to significantly improve speeds and reliability for millions of users. The W project is anticipated to take 5-10 years to complete.
This ambitious project underscores Meta's commitment to the digital ecosystem and its long-term strategy to enhance global connectivity. As more details about the W project emerge, it will be interesting to see how this transformational infrastructure asset shapes the future of Meta's platforms and the broader digital landscape.
The W project, being spearheaded by Meta, indicates their focus on the digital infrastructure sector, furthering their business interests in technology. The upcoming project, expected to cost around $10 billion, is planned to boost connectivity and bandwidth globally, contributing significantly to the finance and technology domains.
