Building massive subsea fiber and data center interconnects
Meta's new transoceanic subsea fiber cable builds
Meta's most ambitious subsea cable project — a 50,000km fiber system spanning five continents that will be the world's longest submarine cable when complete. Connecting the US East Coast, India, Brazil, South Africa, and multiple Asia-Pacific landing points, Waterworth features 24 fiber pairs with first-of-its-kind routing designed to avoid geopolitical chokepoints. Announced February 2025, construction timeline extending into 2027-2028.
Meta and Corning signed a multiyear agreement worth up to $6 billion to expand Corning's optical cable manufacturing capacity in Hickory, NC — directly supporting Meta's AI data center buildout. The deal includes expansion of Corning's existing Hickory facility, one of the largest optical fiber plants in the world, plus a new 1,000-job manufacturing project outside Charlotte.
Meta's Asia-Pacific subsea expansion includes two major systems: Bifrost (now live, connecting Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, and the US with Mexico expected in 2026) and the newly announced Candle cable. Together they represent Meta's commitment to owning its own transoceanic fiber infrastructure. Part of a broader Meta strategy that previously increased transpacific capacity by 70% via Bifrost and Echo.
Meta and Corning are expanding optical cable manufacturing capacity in Hickory, NC as part of a multiyear, up-to-$6 billion agreement supporting Meta's AI data center buildout. A new 1,000-job manufac...
Meta's Project Waterworth will stretch 50,000km across five continents — connecting the US, India, Brazil, South Africa, and Asia-Pacific — making it the world's longest submarine cable with 24 fiber ...