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Meta has introduced Project Warworth, an undersea cable system it calls “the longest 24 fiber pair cable project in the world.” The initiative goals to reinforce international web connectivity by linking 5 continents.
A key objective of the challenge is to assist AI innovation by enhancing information switch capabilities. Meta believes this infrastructure will assist energy AI-driven purposes and develop entry to rising applied sciences.
Project Waterworth will value billions and take years to construct
The undersea cable will stretch greater than 50,000 kilometers (30,700 miles), longer than the circumference of the Earth. The firm didn’t specify how a lot time the challenge would take to finish however did give “multi-year” as a benchmark. Similarly, they gave a “multi-billion dollar” estimate of its value.
The cable represents “three new oceanic corridors,” Meta Vice President of Engineering Gaya Nagarajan and Global Head of Network Investments Alex-Handrah Aimé wrote in a weblog publish.
Meta says its routing expertise was the primary of its variety and maximizes the quantity of cable laid in deep water. At its deepest, Project Waterworth will run as much as 7,000 meters (22,966 ft, or greater than 4.three miles) beneath the ocean’s floor. It will join the U.S., Brazil, South Africa, India, and Australia.
The rising demand for AI information and infrastructure might have contributed to the plans for the challenge.
“As AI continues to transform industries and societies around the world, it’s clear that capacity, resilience, and global reach are more important than ever to support leading infrastructure,” Nagarajan and Aimé wrote. “With Project Waterworth we can help ensure that the benefits of AI and other emerging technologies are available to everyone, regardless of where they live or work.”
Undersea fiber-optic cables allow information to be transmitted between continents separated by the ocean. Meta has laid greater than 20 undersea cables, lots of which use 24 fiber pairs as an alternative of the usual eight to 16 fiber pairs utilized in different modern cables.
India invests within the challenge
The Indian authorities will present some financing for the challenge, in line with a joint assertion from India and the U.S. on Feb. 13.
“India intends to invest in maintenance, repair and financing of undersea cables in the Indian Ocean, using trusted vendors,” the assertion learn.
Meta laid off 5 % of its workers
On Feb. 10, Meta lower 5 % of its workforce, shedding workers from throughout the corporate. Meta initially said solely workers with low inner efficiency scores have been lower. However, leaked inner steerage and worker anecdotes revealed that workers in comparatively larger efficiency tiers have been additionally included within the layoffs.
