Meta and Google's Undersea Cable Projects Face Delays Amid Security Concerns
Two of the world's biggest tech giants are facing setbacks in their ambitious plans to lay undersea cables connecting continents and countries across the globe. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is behind the 2Africa subsea cable system that aims to bring high-speed internet to Africa, while Google has announced a similar project dubbed Blue-Raman.
According to a report by Bloomberg, both projects are facing significant delays due to concerns over operational factors, regulatory hurdles, and geopolitical risks. Meta's 28,000-mile project was first announced in 2020 but is now behind schedule. The company blames "a range of operational factors" for the delay, which includes issues running cable through the southern portion of the Red Sea.
The region has been plagued by regional conflicts and difficulty obtaining permits from local governments. As a result, a significant section of the cable remains unbuilt. This has forced Meta to divert its efforts elsewhere, including to Project #Waterworth, which will connect US to three BRICS countries.
Google's Blue-Raman project is also facing delays in the Red Sea region, where it was originally set to go live in 2024. The company has not provided an updated timetable for the project.
Experts warn that these delays come with significant economic costs. "They are not only 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 requirements," said Alan Mauldin, research director at telecommunications firm Telegeography.
The challenges facing undersea cable projects are multifaceted. Not only do they face geopolitical concerns, but also the risk of damage from natural disasters, extreme weather, and human activities like fishing. As one expert noted, these cables are "a great way to give the various regions of the world fiber internet," but their installation is fraught with challenges.
The delays in Meta's 2Africa project and Google's Blue-Raman come as undersea cable projects face growing scrutiny over their environmental and social impact. Despite the setbacks, both companies remain committed to bringing high-speed internet to underserved communities around the world.
Two of the world's biggest tech giants are facing setbacks in their ambitious plans to lay undersea cables connecting continents and countries across the globe. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is behind the 2Africa subsea cable system that aims to bring high-speed internet to Africa, while Google has announced a similar project dubbed Blue-Raman.
According to a report by Bloomberg, both projects are facing significant delays due to concerns over operational factors, regulatory hurdles, and geopolitical risks. Meta's 28,000-mile project was first announced in 2020 but is now behind schedule. The company blames "a range of operational factors" for the delay, which includes issues running cable through the southern portion of the Red Sea.
The region has been plagued by regional conflicts and difficulty obtaining permits from local governments. As a result, a significant section of the cable remains unbuilt. This has forced Meta to divert its efforts elsewhere, including to Project #Waterworth, which will connect US to three BRICS countries.
Google's Blue-Raman project is also facing delays in the Red Sea region, where it was originally set to go live in 2024. The company has not provided an updated timetable for the project.
Experts warn that these delays come with significant economic costs. "They are not only 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 requirements," said Alan Mauldin, research director at telecommunications firm Telegeography.
The challenges facing undersea cable projects are multifaceted. Not only do they face geopolitical concerns, but also the risk of damage from natural disasters, extreme weather, and human activities like fishing. As one expert noted, these cables are "a great way to give the various regions of the world fiber internet," but their installation is fraught with challenges.
The delays in Meta's 2Africa project and Google's Blue-Raman come as undersea cable projects face growing scrutiny over their environmental and social impact. Despite the setbacks, both companies remain committed to bringing high-speed internet to underserved communities around the world.
just think about it, all this effort and money for cables that can get damaged by a storm 
or be cut by fishermen 
... meanwhile, they're leaving out other ways to improve internet connectivity in Africa like community-led initiatives 
. don't get me wrong, I'm all for fast internet, but let's not forget about the bigger picture 
.
? I'm trying to stream my favorite show on Netflix and I know it's buffering... meanwhile, billions of people are still stuck in the dark ages without reliable internet.
. They build one, then another one gets delayed, and another one starts popping up... I just want to know when I can get fast internet in my neighborhood 
. I'm all for bringing high-speed internet to underserved communities, but can't we just prioritize that over making sure our own projects don't get delayed? 
I MEAN, IT'S ONE THING TO SAY THE WORLD NEEDS FASTER INTERNET CONNECTIONS BUT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 28,000-MILE PROJECT BEHIND SCHEDULE 
. THE REGION IN QUESTION IS ALREADY HAVING ISSUES WITH PERMITS AND REGIONAL CONFLICTS, SO IT'S HARD TO BLAME THEM FOR DELAYING THINGS UP. BUT SERIOUSLY, IF THEY CAN'T GET THIS RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO SEE EVEN MORE PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESSING THE INTERNET 
.