Meta plans to build $10 bln global subsea cable network

Meta is planning to construct a vast $10 billion fibre-optic subsea cable network, spanning over 40,000 kilometres and avoiding areas of geopolitical tension, according to a recent report by TechCrunch.
The project, still in its early stages, is designed to enhance Meta’s global connectivity by bypassing regions where subsea cables have been sabotaged, including the Red Sea, South China Sea, Egypt, Marseilles, the Straits of Malacca, and Singapore.
While Meta already co-owns 16 subsea networks, this new endeavour would mark the company’s first fully privately owned cable system. The exclusive ownership would allow Meta to prioritise traffic for its products and services, aligning it with Google’s approach, which includes private ownership of several cable routes and investments in 33 others.
The project, nicknamed “W” for its anticipated shape, was first revealed by subsea cable expert Sunil Tagare in October. In a LinkedIn post Sunil described it as the “mother of all submarine cables,” estimating that the construction could take between five to ten years. The cable would reportedly link the US east coast to the west coast via major international connection points in India, South Africa, and Australia.
Meta is expected to unveil further details about the project, including its capacity and specific route, in early 2025.