NEW YORK, Feb 18:  Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on Monday its plans to build the world's longest subsea cable that will encircle the Earth and connect five continents.

The initiative, called Project Waterworth, is set to cost $10 billion for both production and installation. The 31,000-mile-long cable will play a key role in supporting Meta's artificial intelligence projects.

Meta outlined in a blog post that "Project Waterworth will bring industry-leading connectivity to the United States, India, Brazil, South Africa, and other key regions." The company further explained that this major project will be a multi-billion-dollar, multi-year investment designed to enhance the scale and reliability of the world's digital infrastructure. It will create three new oceanic corridors, providing the necessary high-speed connectivity to drive AI innovation globally.

There are currently over 600 underwater cable systems that circle the Earth, according to TeleGeography, a telecommunications market research firm. Meta noted that subsea cables carry more than 95% of intercontinental traffic across the world's oceans.

The new subsea cable will feature 24 fiber pairs for higher capacity and will be laid at depths of up to 23,000 feet. In addition, the cable will be buried in high-risk fault zones, including shallow coastal waters, to safeguard it from ships and other potential hazards. This announcement comes just a month after NATO launched a mission to enhance surveillance of ships in the Baltic Sea following damage to critical undersea cables last year.

Meta emphasized that Project Waterworth will foster greater economic cooperation, promote digital inclusion, and open doors for technological development in the regions it connects. The company further stated, "These investments enable unmatched connectivity for our world's growing digital needs."