Meta unveils project Waterworth Subsea Cable at South Africa investment conference

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Meta has announced plans to develop a new subsea cable system, Project Waterworth, aimed at significantly expanding global connectivity and strengthening South Africa’s role as a digital gateway for the continent.

The announcement was made during the 6th South Africa Investment Conference, attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, government officials, and private sector leaders. The project, described as Meta’s most ambitious subsea cable initiative, will span more than 50,000 kilometres across five continents, with three landing points in South Africa—one in KwaZulu-Natal and two in the Western Cape.

According to Kojo Boakye, Vice President, Public Policy, Africa, Middle East, and Turkey, Meta the project builds on the company’s existing investments, including the 2Africa subsea cable system. Combined, the two infrastructures are expected to deliver significantly higher capacity than legacy systems, positioning South Africa as a key hub for digital connectivity across Africa.

The initiative is projected to contribute an estimated $150 billion to Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy by 2035, driven by enhanced internet capacity, digital services expansion, and increased economic activity.

Discussions at the conference also touched on broader digital transformation priorities, including artificial intelligence, data governance, and the regulatory environment supporting technology investments. South Africa’s Digital Economy Masterplan and ongoing consultations on a National AI Policy Framework were cited as key factors attracting large-scale investments.

Meta highlighted its broader commitment to the country, noting ongoing efforts in digital skills development, entrepreneurship support, and the growth of local AI innovation ecosystems. Since 2017, the company has trained hundreds of thousands of individuals in digital literacy and supported startups through initiatives such as the LLaMA Impact Accelerator.

The Project Waterworth development underscores growing investor confidence in South Africa’s digital economy and reinforces the country’s strategic importance in global connectivity infrastructure.