There must be something in the water.Â
Big Tech companies are doubling down on building high-capacity undersea cables to accelerate the progress of the digital economy across many countries. The latest effort is Meta’s Project Waterworth, which will pass through five continents—including a landing station in South Africa.
Project Waterworth is projected to be the world’s longest undersea broadband cable, spanning 50,000km and connecting millions of businesses and individuals to the digital economy, deepening internet penetration across the regions. Project Waterworth just barely edges out the 2Africa cable project—which Meta is also part of—stretching 45,000km across 46 landing points and nearing completion.
Meta is clearly making a strong push to become a major player in Africa’s telecom infrastructure. By backing both projects, the company is positioning itself as a key partner for operators across the continent. This global infrastructure build-out isn’t just about connectivity—it’s also a strategic move to support Meta’s AI goals. After laying off 3,600 people, Meta plans to hire more machine learning engineers, showing its focus on leading the AI race. Building these networks ensures the data and connectivity needed to power AI systems, further strengthening Meta’s position as a tech leader.
South Africa’s broadband network has seen steady improvements, but challenges remain. While urban centres enjoy relatively fast internet, rural areas still struggle with connectivity gaps. Existing undersea cables like Seacom, WACS, and Equiano have boosted capacity, yet high costs and infrastructure limitations continue to slow progress.
Project Waterworth is expected to improve internet speeds, reduce latency, and make data more affordable in the long run. Streaming, online gaming, and remote work could become smoother and more reliable. Businesses that rely on cloud computing and international data transfers may also benefit from more stable connections.
Beyond convenience, stronger digital infrastructure could drive economic growth. A more robust network could attract tech investment, support startups, and expand access to digital services in underserved areas. Digital inclusion has been a challenge, and this project could help bridge that divide.
With greater connectivity, however, come questions about data privacy and regulatory control. As big tech firms like Meta play a larger role in global internet infrastructure, concerns over data security, competition, and pricing fairness will need to be addressed.
