Meta Announces the Longest Subsea Cable Project in the World, Strengthening U.S.-India Connectivity

Meta's ambitious underwater cable plan will span 50,000 km across five continents

Meta Platforms, the parent company behind popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has unveiled an ambitious plan to build the world's longest subsea cable. The company’s new project is expected to significantly enhance connectivity between the U.S. and India, and is seen as a major step forward in fostering closer relations between the two countries. This initiative, known as Project Waterworth, was officially announced on February 14 by Meta through a public notice on its website.

The Project Waterworth aims to lay down a subsea cable system that will stretch an unprecedented 50,000 kilometers—longer than the Earth’s circumference. Meta emphasized that this project will use cutting-edge technology to connect five continents, making it the most advanced and expansive subsea cable network in existence.

The announcement was made in conjunction with visuals illustrating the connectivity between the United States and India. According to TechCrunch, Meta currently handles a significant portion of global internet traffic, controlling 10% of fixed-line internet and 22% of wireless internet traffic. This positions Meta as the second-largest player in the world in terms of data traffic, trailing only Alphabet, Google’s parent company.

This subsea cable project is not just about expanding Meta's infrastructure. The company views this as an essential development for driving the global AI innovation ecosystem, enabling faster and more reliable internet connections. With billions of dollars allocated for this multi-year venture, Meta aims to create an ultra-high-speed network that will support the growing needs of AI technologies and global digital transformation.

In addition to its major scale, Meta has a longstanding history of collaboration in the subsea cable industry, having worked with various partners over the past decade. The company has been instrumental in developing over 20 subsea cables, including a significant network of 24 pairs of fiber optic cables. This new initiative will allow Meta to take a further step by owning and managing the cables independently for the first time, marking a new chapter in the company's technological evolution. The cables will be installed in water depths reaching up to 7,000 meters.

The project is set to play a pivotal role in strengthening U.S.-India relations. On February 13, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, where both leaders welcomed Meta's announcement. In a joint statement, they expressed their mutual support for enhancing connectivity in the Indian Ocean region through this subsea cable initiative, which is expected to begin later this year. The statement also highlighted India's commitment to investing in the maintenance, repair, and financing of subsea cables in the Indian Ocean, further solidifying the region’s strategic importance.

Meta’s new project is not only a technological marvel but also a strategic move that aligns with both the U.S. and India's efforts to deepen their digital and economic ties, underscoring the growing significance of international collaborations in global tech infrastructure. This monumental subsea cable network is poised to transform global connectivity, opening up new opportunities for businesses, governments, and individuals across the world.