Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is reportedly set to invest over $10 billion in a vast subsea cable project stretching more than 40,000 kilometers.
This major undertaking, still in its early stages, would mark Meta’s first fully owned and operated subsea cable, according to sources familiar with the company’s plans.
The ambitious project reflects Meta’s increasing emphasis on strengthening its global infrastructure. The company’s platforms account for 10% of all fixed and 22% of all mobile internet traffic worldwide, Techcrunch reported.
The subsea cable is expected to follow a “W” shape, connecting the U.S., India, South Africa, and Australia, making it a landmark project for Meta. Industry expert Sunil Tagare, who first reported the initiative in October, noted that the estimated initial budget of $2 billion could increase as the project progresses.
“This is a monumental project, not only in terms of investment but also in its scale,” said Tagare. “The scarcity of cable-laying ships and resources might prompt Meta to take a segmented approach to construction.”
While Meta has yet to officially confirm details, sources suggest a formal announcement—including the cable’s route, capacity, and objectives—is expected in early 2025.
Meta faces significant logistical hurdles in executing the project. The global supply of specialized cable-laying ships is already under strain, with other tech giants like Google securing contracts with firms such as SubCom.
A submarine cable industry analyst Ranulf Scarborough, emphasized the tight market conditions, noting that Meta may need to adopt a phased construction plan, extending the timeline over several years.
The project is being overseen by Santosh Janardhan, Meta’s head of global infrastructure, and is being developed from its operations in South Africa, underscoring the growing importance of emerging markets in Meta’s strategy.
Traditionally, telecom carriers have dominated subsea cable construction and ownership. However, the rise of content-driven companies like Meta has shifted this dynamic, with tech firms seeking to gain direct control over the infrastructure that delivers content, advertising, and services globally. This allows them to reduce reliance on external providers and enhance operational efficiency.
Meta’s push into the subsea cable market signals its long-term strategy to dominate global connectivity pipelines. If successful, the project will not only streamline data flow but also open up new opportunities in underserved markets, further solidifying Meta’s global influence.
