Meta Hits Pause on Persian Gulf Subsea Cable Amid Middle East War
Meta freezes the Persian Gulf leg of its massive 2Africa undersea cable project as regional conflict disrupts operations.
Meta has put the brakes on a key section of its ambitious 2Africa subsea cable project. The Persian Gulf portion of the massive infrastructure effort is now on hold, with the ongoing war in the Middle East effectively freezing activity across the region.
The 2Africa cable is one of the largest undersea internet infrastructure projects ever attempted, designed to dramatically expand connectivity across the African continent and surrounding regions. The Persian Gulf segment represents a critical link in that network.
The pause doesn't kill the broader project, but it does highlight how geopolitical conflict can slam the brakes on even Big Tech's most ambitious infrastructure plays. Meta hasn't indicated when — or if — work on the Gulf section might resume.
For now, the war dictates the timeline.