Meta’s New $10 Billion Undersea Cable Will Connect the World: Report

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and a dominant force in global internet usage is making a massive infrastructure investment. Controlling 10% of fixed and 22% of mobile internet traffic, the company is planning a new, privately owned subsea cable that will span the world,

According to TechCrunch’s sources this ambitious project, spanning over 40,000 kilometers, could cost Meta upwards of $10 billion. This marks a significant shift for the company, as it will be the sole owner and operator of this global cable, further solidifying its control over its network infrastructure and supporting its growing AI investments.

Will Need Several Years

Meta’s planned subsea cable project, while still in its early stages, carries a hefty price tag. Starting with a $2 billion budget, the cost is projected to surpass $10 billion as the multi-year project progresses.

Even if the project proceeds as planned, full operation is still years away. Specialized companies capable of building such infrastructure, like SubCom, are already booked with major clients such as Google, creating potential delays.

TechCrunch’s sources confirmed the project’s existence, noting that planning is underway, but physical construction has not yet begun. They declined to discuss budgetary details. A public announcement from Meta is anticipated in early 2025, which will likely reveal the cable’s route, capacity, and the company’s rationale for undertaking this massive infrastructure project.

Regions Covered by the Cable

Meta’s planned subsea cable aims to create a dedicated data pipeline encircling the globe. Sources indicate the proposed route would form a “W” shape, connecting the US east coast to India via South Africa, then continuing from India to the US west coast via Australia.

Here is what it will look like on the map:

The Hurdles

Submarine cable industry analyst Ranulf Scarborough highlights the significant hurdles facing Meta’s project. Cable ship availability is extremely tight,  Scarborough explains. They’re costly and booked years in advance, he adds.

Securing the necessary resources for a prompt buildout presents a major challenge. Scarborough suggests a phased, segment-by-segment construction approach as a possible solution.

It is worth mentioning here that Meta has previously laid a major undersea cable connecting Pakistan to various other parts of the world, improving our country’s connectivity.