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Meta has announced the construction of a 50,000 km global undersea internet cable, set to become the longest data transmission line in the world. The Waterworth project will connect the US, India, South Africa, Brazil, and other regions, strengthening digital infrastructure.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is heavily investing in internet networks essential for AI and cloud technologies. According to the company, the new cable will provide "industry-leading" connectivity between continents.
Waterworth will use 24 fiber-optic pairs, offering the highest transmission capacity among existing undersea cables.
Undersea cables play a crucial role in global data transmission, carrying over 95% of the world's internet traffic. There are currently more than 600 submarine cable systems, including Meta’s 2Africa cable, which spans 45,000 km.
Major companies are investing billions in cable infrastructure. In 2024, Google announced plans to build the first undersea cable between Africa and Australia, as well as two trans-Pacific cables to improve connectivity with Japan.
Analysts note that Meta is working to expand its control over internet infrastructure, integrating its hardware, software, and services. However, this raises concerns among regulators.
Meta stated that Waterworth will be laid at depths of up to 7,000 meters, with enhanced security measures in high-risk areas to protect against cable damage from ship anchors and other external threats.
A New Internet Cable for Central Asia
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is working on a fiber-optic line across the Caspian Sea, expected to be completed in 2025. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev believes this project will strengthen the country's digital independence.
Elzhan Kabishev, head of legal practice at the Eurasian Digital Foundation, says the new route will ensure stable internet access for Central Asia and serve as an alternative data transmission corridor between Europe and Asia.
The new backbone cable will stretch from Europe through the Black Sea, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, before crossing the Caspian into Kazakhstan. This will enhance regional network resilience against outages and geopolitical disruptions.
(Translation was done automatically)
