Meta has unveiled a multi-billion-dollar, multi-year investment in an undersea cable project aimed at enhancing Indian Ocean connectivity, as stated in a US-India joint leaders' statement from the White House. The project, set to commence this year, will span over 50,000 km, linking five continents and significantly strengthening global digital infrastructure.
As part of the initiative, India plans to invest in the maintenance, repair, and financing of undersea cables, ensuring the use of trusted vendors. This move underscores India’s strategic role in bolstering regional and global digital highways.
The announcement coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, where he also met Tesla CEO Elon Musk. A Meta spokesperson emphasized India’s importance as one of the company’s largest markets, stating that the project will be the world's longest, highest-capacity, and most technologically advanced subsea cable system, directly connecting India, the US, and other key regions. The infrastructure is expected to be operational by the end of the decade.
Meta highlighted that with India's rapidly growing digital economy, this investment reinforces the company’s commitment to economic growth, resilient infrastructure, and digital inclusion. The initiative aims to support India's digital expansion while fostering technological innovation across industries.
Additionally, the White House stated that both nations have pledged to accelerate defense technology cooperation across multiple domains, including space, air defense, missile systems, maritime security, and undersea technologies. As part of this collaboration, the US has announced a policy review regarding the release of fifth-generation fighter jets and advanced undersea systems to India.