Enchantment Under the Sea: Meta’s 50,000-km cable project to boost connectivity across continents

Meta‘s Project Waterworth, poised to become the world’s longest undersea cable at 50,000 km, represents a significant advancement in global internet infrastructure. The company is strategically negotiating with Indian telecom operators including Airtel, Jio, Tata Communications, and Lightstorm to establish landing points in India, creating a critical digital connection between India, the US, Brazil, South Africa, and other regions that will enhance connectivity for billions of users across multiple continents.

The big picture: Meta’s massive undersea cable initiative aims to bolster internet speeds and reliability across multiple continents while strategically navigating geopolitical considerations.

• The 50,000-km cable system will connect India, the US, Brazil, South Africa, and other regions, creating faster, more reliable connections for data-intensive applications.
• Without an International Long Distance license, Meta is pursuing partnerships with local telecom operators who have the necessary infrastructure and regulatory clearances.

Why this matters: The project will significantly enhance India’s digital infrastructure, supporting growing demand for data-intensive applications including AI technologies.

• The cable will improve internet speeds, reduce latency, and ensure more reliable connections for popular apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube.
• This advancement is particularly critical for supporting large-scale AI applications and the adoption of open AI models in India.

Strategic implications: Project Waterworth aligns with broader India-US cooperation to create alternatives to Chinese influence in global undersea cable networks.

• The cable route deliberately bypasses high-risk geopolitical zones including the Red Sea and South China Sea, where disruptions and repairs are frequent challenges.
• This routing strategy enhances the reliability of the network while reflecting the growing importance of digital infrastructure in international relations.

Current landscape: India’s subsea connectivity is expanding rapidly with significant private sector investment.

• The country currently has 18 submarine cables landing across Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, and Trivandrum.
• Five additional undersea cable projects are in development by companies including Google, Meta, Airtel, and Jio, indicating strong growth in India’s digital infrastructure.