Meta Halts 2Africa Pearls Cable Project Due to Regional Hostilities
Here's what it means for you.
Disruptions in global connectivity projects can delay essential digital infrastructure upgrades, impacting internet speeds and cloud services.
What happened
On March 12, 2026, Meta halted work on the 2Africa Pearls undersea cable project segments due to escalating hostilities in the Persian Gulf and southern Red Sea.
The Context
- Force majeure declared: Contractor Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) cited unsafe operating conditions amid regional conflicts, halting operations.
- Connectivity goals: The 2Africa Pearls extension aims to enhance digital connectivity for 3 billion people across Africa, Europe, and Asia, but geopolitical tensions threaten progress.
- Previous disruptions: The project has faced multiple interruptions due to Houthi military actions, complicating deployment timelines and increasing costs.
The Number
— the total length of the 2Africa system, the longest subsea cable ever deployed, which is crucial for expanding internet access and digital services across multiple regions.
Takeaway
Expect extended timelines for the 2Africa project as regional conflicts necessitate new surveys and contracts before resuming operations.
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Meta’s massive undersea cable project has been put on hold by regional hostilities – 2Africa Pearls project suffers another setback
Meta's 2Africa undersea cable project, specifically the Red Sea and 'Pearls' sections, has been put on hold due to ongoing regional hostilities in the Middle East.
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Sources: Meta has paused the Persian Gulf section of its 2Africa subsea cable project as the war in the Middle East freezes activity in the region (Bloomberg)
Meta Platforms Inc. has paused the Persian Gulf section of its 2Africa subsea cable project due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, which has frozen activity in the region.