Meta has officially confirmed the launch of Project Waterworth, a massive $10 billion subsea infrastructure initiative spanning 50,000 kilometers. Designed to connect five continents—including the United States, Brazil, India, and South Africa—this project marks the world’s longest subsea cable network, aimed at securing Meta’s global digital dominance and fueling its expanding AI operations.
Engineering a New Global Standard
Project Waterworth is not just about distance; it is a leap in network architecture. The system will utilize 24 fiber pair cables and advanced routing technology capable of reaching depths of up to 7,000 meters. Meta has implemented sophisticated burial techniques designed to mitigate risks in geographically challenging or politically volatile regions, ensuring the long-term reliability of these critical digital corridors.
This infrastructure is essential for Meta, which currently accounts for 10% of all fixed and 22% of all mobile internet traffic globally. By controlling its own physical network, the company reduces its dependence on traditional carriers and gains unprecedented control over how it delivers its services.
Geopolitics and the India Connection
The project serves as a strategic cornerstone in international relations. A recent joint leaders statement from U.S. President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the project’s role in a broader defense and technology partnership. India has committed to supporting the maintenance, repair, and financing of the cables within the Indian Ocean, emphasizing the use of “trusted vendors.”
Powering the Future of AI
The primary driver behind this multi-billion dollar investment is the exponential growth of AI data centers and cloud services. As Meta scales its AI innovations, the need for high-speed, reliable, and massive bandwidth has become a strategic imperative.
“Project Waterworth will be a multi-billion dollar, multi-year investment to strengthen the scale and reliability of the world’s digital highways,” stated Meta’s leadership. The network will facilitate seamless digital communication, video experiences, and online transactions, effectively creating the backbone for the company’s next generation of AI services.
Shifting the Big Tech Landscape
While Meta already holds partial ownership in 16 existing networks—including the 2Africa cable—Project Waterworth represents a significant departure from its previous strategy. This is the first subsea cable project to be wholly owned by Meta.
This move elevates Meta into a new tier of infrastructure ownership, rivaling Google, which currently maintains partial involvement in 33 routes and sole ownership of several regional efforts. Other industry giants, such as Amazon and Microsoft, remain primarily capacity buyers or partial partners, leaving Meta to carve out a unique position as the primary architect of its own global connectivity.