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The Waterworth Project from Vajirao & Reddy Institute

By : Author Desk Updated : 2025-02-21 11:55:18

THE WATERWORTH PROJECT

  • Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) has announced plans to build the world’s longest subsea fibre-optic cable, known as Project Waterworth.
  • This massive project will span 50,000 kilometers, connecting 5 continents and enhancing the company’s digital infrastructure to support its growing services.
KEY FEATURES
  • Global Connectivity:
    • The cable will connect: the United States, India, Brazil, South Africa, and other key regions.
  • Advanced Technology:
    • The cable will use 24-pair fibre-optic technology, offering the highest capacity available for data transfer.
    • It will ensure faster data transfer, promoting economic cooperation and helping bring more people online, particularly in emerging markets.
  • Subsea Cable’s Importance:
    • 95% of intercontinental data traffic is transmitted via subsea cables, making them vital for global communication.
    • The cable will be laid at a depth of up to 7,000 meters (23,000 feet), avoiding sea traffic and disturbances typically found in shallow waters.
  • Cable Protection:
    • In vulnerable areas like coastlines, special burial techniques will be used to safeguard the cable from damage, especially in high-risk zones (e.g., earthquake-prone areas).
  • Supporting Meta’s AI Growth:
    • The cable will aid Meta’s growing focus on artificial intelligence (AI), improving its AI-powered data centers and other technologies.
    • Meta has announced plans to invest up to $65 billion in AI infrastructure this year, supporting initiatives like AI-powered humanoid robots.
  • Project Cost:
    • The exact cost of Project Waterworth hasn’t been disclosed, but estimates suggest it could cost around $2 billion.
    • The project will take several years to complete, representing a multi-billion-dollar investment.
COMPARISON WITH OTHER SUBSEA CABLE PROJECTS
  • Meta contributed to the construction of the 2Africa subsea cable launched in 2020, which held the title of the longest subsea cable at 45,000 kilometers.
  • The 2Africa cable connects 33 countries across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and is supported by telecom giants like Telecom Egypt, China Mobile, and Vodafone.
INDIA’S ROLE IN SUBSEA CABLE EXPANSION India is actively investing in new subsea cable systems to enhance global internet connectivity:
  • India Asia Xpress (IAX):
    • Connects Chennai and Mumbai in India to Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.
  • India Europe Xpress (IEX):
    • Connects Chennai and Mumbai in India to France, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Djibouti.
  • Total Cable Length: Over 15,000 km
  • Ownership: Both cables are owned by Reliance Jio.
IMPORTANCE OF CABLE RESILIENCE & SECURITY
  • India is focusing on submarine cable security, addressing threats such as physical damage and cyberattacks.
  • India is a key member of the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience (IABSR), a global initiative aimed at enhancing submarine cable resilience.
Impact of Submarine Cable Disruptions:
  • In March, 3 submarine cables were disrupted, affecting traffic to India.
  • However, alternative routes and Indian data centers helped to maintain internet services during these disruptions.
VULNERABILITIES
  • Bangladesh halted plans to sell bandwidth to Northeast India, but this has had minimal impact as Northeast India is already connected via fiber on Power Grid transmission lines.
  • Over half of Bangladesh’s internet traffic comes from India.
Other Choke Points:
  • The Malacca Strait is a key vulnerability, being a crucial route for undersea cables between India and Singapore.
  • Disruptions in this area could impact multiple cables.
  • India is exploring alternative routes to bypass the Malacca Strait, but no current solution is in place.
CONCLUSION Meta’s Project Waterworth is a monumental investment in global connectivity, with the potential to reshape international data transfer by connecting five continents through the world’s longest subsea fibre-optic cable. Additionally, India’s role in submarine cable expansion, coupled with increasing attention to cable resilience and security, highlights the growing importance of secure, reliable internet infrastructure for global communication.   Note: Connect with Vajirao & Reddy Institute to keep yourself updated with latest UPSC Current Affairs in English. Note: We upload Current Affairs Except Sunday.