Meta's $10 Billion Global Subsea Cable Network

Meta Platforms is planning to build a massive fiber-optic subsea cable network to enhance its global data infrastructure. The project, which could exceed $10 billion in cost, aims to span approximately 25,000 miles, linking the US, South Africa, India, and Australia, and will be fully owned by Meta. This initiative is intended to circumvent regions with high geopolitical tensions and potential sabotage risks, such as the Red Sea and South China Sea. The cable would provide Meta with a dedicated pipeline for data traffic, potentially improving service quality for platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The project is in its early stages, with a formal announcement expected in 2025, and is anticipated to take several years due to limited availability of cable-laying ships. This strategic move aligns Meta with other tech giants like Google, which owns numerous undersea cable routes, ensuring greater control over its infrastructure amidst growing AI-driven internet usage.