When we read articles on the web, scroll through videos on TikTok or write emails, we rarely stop to think about the complex functioning of the network of networks. We don’t need to do that either. However, it may be interesting to remember that one of the pillars of the Internet They are submarine cables. TechCrunch notes that Meta wants to have one and is willing to invest a fortune to get it.
The technology medium explains that the company led by Mark Zuckerberg is drawing up a plan that includes building an underwater fiber optic cable that extends throughout the world. The planned route for this ambitious technological infrastructure, according to sources close to the project, seeks to connect the east coast of the United States with South Africa, India, the northern coast of Australia and the west coast of the North American country.
More than 40,000 kilometers of fiber optics
The American firm has carefully outlined the path of its multi-billion dollar infrastructure. Sunil Tagare, an expert in submarine cables, explains that Meta wanted avoid conflict areassuch as the Red Sea, the South China Sea, Egypt, Marseille, among others. Everything seems to indicate that Meta seeks to reduce the possibilities of both accidental and deliberate outages (sabotage is a reality).
Talking about this initiative means bringing in huge figures. It is estimated that the fiber optic network will extend over more than 40,000 kilometers. The initial budget would have been set at $2 billion, with a total expenditure of $10 billion. As one might assume, “the mother of all submarine cables” will require years of work. According to Tagare, the project required between 5 and 10 years to complete.
A contractor repairs an underwater cable in the ocean
It should be noted that Meta has not confirmed the project, but sources say that the company plans to make an announcement early 2025. They also note that few contractors are capable of doing this work, and finding available contractors can be a challenge. However, Meta could have established some kind of secret agreement some time ago, which would allow it to secure resources for the project.
Submarine cables are very important for meta. Without going any further, its services are responsible for 10% of the world’s fixed Internet traffic and 22% of mobile traffic, according to Sandrine. In fact, it is currently co-owner of more than a dozen submarine cables. Now, by having your own cable you would have absolute control over this important part of the network technological infrastructure.
On paper, this huge submarine cable would help Meta improve the quality of access to its services outside the United States (where a large part of its users are), although it would not reach them directly. As is usually the case, the company would have to agree with Internet and mobile phone service providers for this part of the service. We have to wait to find out what will finally happen with this interesting project.
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