Meta‘s Project Waterworth, poised to become the world’s longest undersea cable at 50,000 km, represents a significant advancement in global internet infrastructure. The company is strategically negotiating with Indian telecom operators including Airtel, Jio, Tata Communications, and Lightstorm to establish landing points in India, creating a critical digital connection between India, the US, Brazil, South Africa, and other regions that will enhance connectivity for billions of users across multiple continents.
The big picture: Meta’s massive undersea cable initiative aims to bolster internet speeds and reliability across multiple continents while strategically navigating geopolitical considerations.
- The 50,000-km cable system will connect India, the US, Brazil, South Africa, and other regions, creating faster, more reliable connections for data-intensive applications.
- Without an International Long Distance license, Meta is pursuing partnerships with local telecom operators who have the necessary infrastructure and regulatory clearances.
Why this matters: The project will significantly enhance India’s digital infrastructure, supporting growing demand for data-intensive applications including AI technologies.
- The cable will improve internet speeds, reduce latency, and ensure more reliable connections for popular apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube.
- This advancement is particularly critical for supporting large-scale AI applications and the adoption of open AI models in India.
Strategic implications: Project Waterworth aligns with broader India-US cooperation to create alternatives to Chinese influence in global undersea cable networks.
- The cable route deliberately bypasses high-risk geopolitical zones including the Red Sea and South China Sea, where disruptions and repairs are frequent challenges.
- This routing strategy enhances the reliability of the network while reflecting the growing importance of digital infrastructure in international relations.
Current landscape: India’s subsea connectivity is expanding rapidly with significant private sector investment.
- The country currently has 18 submarine cables landing across Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, and Trivandrum.
- Five additional undersea cable projects are in development by companies including Google, Meta, Airtel, and Jio, indicating strong growth in India’s digital infrastructure.
Meta in Talks with Indian Telcos for Project Waterworth’s Cable Landing: Report