Meta is building the world’s longest underwater internet cable, stretching an incredible 31,000 miles (50,000km), which is longer than the Earth’s actual circumference. Project Waterworth, as it's called, is a massive cable system that will connect the U.S., India, Brazil, South Africa, and other regions, improving internet speed and reliability across the globe.

The cable will have 24 fiber-optic lines, allowing it to handle huge amounts of data. This is important for Meta’s growing use of AI and for bringing better internet access to more people, especially in developing countries. Faster, more stable connections will help businesses, schools, and entire communities stay connected and grow.

To keep it safe, the cable will be laid deep under the ocean, in some cases more than 4 miles beneath the surface. In more shallow areas, it will be buried to protect it from damage caused by ships and fishing equipment.

Meta expects the project to be completed by the end of the decade, helping to expand global internet access like never before (and I'm sure give it a competitive advantage by owning the data pipelines). 

What I don't see in the article is any information about what these underwater cables do to the marine life that surrounds it. Is it harmful in any way? Is it helpful? I'm curious to see a study on the marine environments after 5, 10, 25 years or more of having telecom cables on the sea floor. 

_{Image used in original article provided by Meta}