Meta to build its first fully-owned subsea cable around the world: How is India involved?

Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta, the parent firm of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, is reportedly planning a subsea cable that would “encompass the world”.

Industry observer Roderick Beck has described it as the “most ambitious” subsea project in his blog.

Here’s all you need to know:

(1.) This would be Meta’s first fully-owned subsea cable. The social media giant is already involved in subsea cables such as 2Africa, Echo, Bifrost Havhingsten, Amite and Anjana.

(2.) According to subsea cable entrepreneur Sunil Tagare, who was the first to report Meta’s plans (in October), the project’s starting cost is $2 billion, which is expected to rise to over $10 billion as work progresses.

(3.) Two possible routes have been suggested, and India is on both. According to Beck, it would begin from the US East Coast, go down the West African Coast to South Africa, and then head straight to Mumbai, from where it would go to Australia and then end at the US West Coast.

(4.) On the other hand, Tagare said the cable would run from the east coast of the US to India with a stop in South Africa, and then from India to the west coast of the US with a stop in Australia.

(5.) Tagare has dubbed the cable “W” due to the shape of the suggested route.

(6.) In India, the cable is speculated to pass through facilities of Reliance Jio, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani.

(7.) Its total length is estimated to be 40,000 km and the estimated capacity is 320Tbps.

(8.) The following routes would be avoided as these have been “problematic” in recent years: Red Sea, South China Sea and Egypt.

(9.) TechCrunch has reported that Meta is expected to officially announce the project in early 2025.

(10.) However, it would be “years” before the cable is fully operational.