Meta and Google are facing delays in long-promised undersea cable projects, A Meta spokesperson attributed the delay to “a range of operational factors, regulatory concerns and geopolitical risks,”
Meta’s 2Africa subsea cable system is expected to circumnavigate the African continent and provide fiber internet to the region. It also aims to connect Europe with Asia and Africa. The 28,000-mile project was first announced in 2020.
However, the company has faced problems while running the cable through the southern part of the Red Sea. A complete section has not yet been built due to regional conflicts and difficulty obtaining certain permits from local governments.
A Google-backed Blue-Raman intercontinental cable system in the region has also been delayed, after first being announced in 2021. The system was originally scheduled to go live in 2024, connecting countries such as France, Italy, India, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The company has not provided any updated timetable.
These are just two examples, as many other fiber internet cables have yet to go live in the Red Sea. The builders have reportedly faced repeated missile attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis, forcing them to take long detours and disrupting work.
“Not only are they unable to monetize their investments by sending data over these cables, but they are forced to purchase capacity on alternative cables to meet their near-term needs,” said Alan Mauldin, research director at telecommunications firm Telegeography.
It’s worth noting that these delays should not impact the two previously announced marine fiber projects by Google and Meta. Google is building a cable that will wrap around the Atlantic shore. META is building one that looks to connect five continents, not crossing the Red Sea.
Undersea cables are a great way to deliver fiber internet to different areas of the world, but it also has some disadvantages. We’ve already covered geopolitical concerns when it comes to construction, but installed cables can fray and break. This is usually caused by natural disasters, extreme weather, and human activities such as fishing.