Washington: Facebook’s parent company Meta has announced a plan to build the world’s longest undersea cable network. The project has been named ‘Project Waterworth’, which will be a huge network connecting five major continents. Its total length will be more than 50,000 kilometers, which is more than the circumference of the Earth.
Objectives of Project Waterworth
Meta says the main objective of Project Waterworth is to provide high-speed connectivity to support artificial intelligence (AI) projects globally. The project will boost technological innovation in the US, India, Brazil, South Africa and other key regions. Meta said the project will boost the scale and reliability of digital highways through three new maritime corridors.
Marine cable networks and digital infrastructure
Undersea cable projects are considered a vital part of the global digital infrastructure, as they handle more than 95 percent of intercontinental traffic within the oceans. Meta plans to lay cables at a depth of 7,000 metres for the project, and will use advanced burial technologies in high-risk areas to ensure safety from shallow waters, ship anchorages and other hazards near the coast. Meta also said, “The project will promote economic cooperation, promote digital inclusion and generate new opportunities for technological development in various sectors.”
Impact of the project in India
India is an important part of the project as the country has seen significant development in digital infrastructure over the past decade. Meta says Project Waterworth will help India rapidly expand its digital infrastructure and help realise the country’s ambitious plans for a digital economy. The project was part of the US-India Joint Leaders’ Statement, which was released after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US. Meta hopes that through Project Waterworth, the benefits of AI and other emerging technologies will be accessible to everyone, no matter where they are or work.
