Meta Builds Massive Undersea Cable Network

Meta announced on September 21 the completion of Petal, a subsea cable spanning approximately 4,300 miles and linking the United States with France. This cable, slated to become operational in 2029, is designed to deliver unprecedented petabit-scale capacity across the Atlantic Ocean, capable of transmitting 1 petabit per second, which equates to roughly 125,000 gigabytes per second. Meta states this capacity is double that of current advanced transoceanic cables and sufficient for three-quarters of the global population to stream music simultaneously. The enhanced capacity is achieved through the use of two-core fiber technology, allowing for two light paths within each strand, thereby doubling data throughput without a proportional increase in power consumption or physical infrastructure. This significant investment in subsea infrastructure supports Meta's expanding portfolio of digital services and AI products, which require the efficient transfer of vast amounts of data between its global data centers and users. The company's AI agent, Muse, launched on September 8 and quickly rose to the top of Apple's U.S. App Store within two weeks, surpassing ChatGPT, despite privacy concerns regarding its access to user data. Muse is powered by Meta's Muse Spark models, highlighting the critical role of robust data transmission networks for the performance of such AI applications. Meta, currently valued at approximately $1.85 trillion, has been actively developing its subsea cable presence for the past decade, investing in over 20 such projects. These initiatives collectively connect six continents, excluding Antarctica. Among its most ambitious undertakings is Project Waterworth, announced in February 2025, which is projected to extend over 31,000 miles, exceeding the Earth's circumference. This project aims to establish a comprehensive global network, underscoring Meta's strategic commitment to building foundational infrastructure that underpins its digital services and future innovations. The expansion of its undersea cable network is a critical, albeit less publicized, component of Meta's broader infrastructure strategy, complementing its investments in data centers which have faced public scrutiny regarding energy consumption, water usage, and zoning regulations. The development of these subsea cables is essential for maintaining low latency and high bandwidth for Meta's social media platforms, virtual reality initiatives, and rapidly evolving AI capabilities, ensuring seamless global connectivity for billions of users.