Meta has announced its largest project for laying underwater cables, Project Waterworth, which is set to cover five continents. The multi-billion dollar project, in development for several years, is aimed at strengthening the scale and reliability of the global digital infrastructure. It will open three new oceanic corridors with high throughput capabilities necessary for the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies.
Representatives from Meta state that AI is revolutionizing various aspects of life, and the company aims to lead the technological progress in this area. Project Waterworth is expected to provide access to advanced technologies for millions of people worldwide.
Vice President of Meta Network Engineering, GAI Nagarajan, and Head of Global Network Investments, Alexa Handra Aime, revealed that Project Waterworth will be the largest underwater cable project in the company’s history. Spanning over 50,000 km in length, it will surpass the circumference of the Earth.
The underwater network will connect key regions such as the United States, India, Brazil, South Africa, and more, fostering economic cooperation, digital inclusion, and technological development. Specifically, the project will speed up the implementation of India’s digital strategy.
Meta has been involved in the development of over 20 underwater cables in the past decade, introducing systems with 24 fiber pairs instead of the standard 8-16. Project Waterworth will continue this trend by creating the longest underwater network with high throughput capabilities.
Furthermore, Meta plans to utilize innovative cable laying methods at depths of up to 7 km and enhanced techniques for coastal deepening to mitigate the risk of damage from ship anchors and other potential threats.
Aside from Project Waterworth, Meta is establishing a new unit within Reality Labs dedicated to developing AI-based humanoid robots. According to reports, META Technical Director Andrew Bosworth stated that the new group will focus on creating consumer robots leveraging the capabilities of the Llama model.
In addition to these initiatives, Meta is planning to expand its presence in retail by launching its own stores similar to the Meta Lab Store opened in Los Angeles in November.