Meta’s Project Waterworth spans 50,000 km across five continents, enhancing global connectivity, AI infrastructure, and digital inclusion. (Image source: Meta)

Meta has announced its most ambitious subsea cable project to date: Project Waterworth. Spanning over 50,000 km, this initiative will connect five major continents, surpassing the Earth’s circumference in length

Once completed, it will be the longest subsea cable project globally, utilising the highest-capacity technology available.

Project Waterworth is set to redefine global connectivity, linking the U.S., India, Brazil, South Africa, and other key regions. This large-scale investment aims to drive economic collaboration, promote digital inclusion, and create new technological opportunities. In India, where digital infrastructure has experienced rapid growth, Waterworth will accelerate progress and support the country’s vision for an advanced digital economy.

Powering global connectivity

Subsea cable networks, such as Project Waterworth, form the backbone of global digital infrastructure, facilitating over 95% of intercontinental traffic. They enable seamless digital communication, high-quality video streaming, and secure online transactions worldwide. As a multi-billion dollar, multi-year investment, Waterworth will establish three new oceanic corridors, delivering high-speed, reliable connectivity to fuel AI-driven advancements across industries.

Meta has been a pioneer in infrastructure innovation, collaborating with global partners to develop over 20 subsea cables over the past decade. These projects include multiple 24 fiber pair cables, significantly exceeding the 8 to 16 fiber pairs found in most new systems. Such advancements meet the growing demand for high-performance digital connectivity.

With Project Waterworth, Meta is pushing engineering boundaries to enhance cable resilience and optimize deployment speed. It will be the longest 24 fiber pair cable ever built, leveraging deep-sea routing—at depths of up to 7,000 meters—and advanced burial techniques in shallow, high-risk zones. These measures protect against potential damage from ship anchors and other environmental factors.

AI is revolutionising every aspect of our lives, from how we interact with each other to how we think about infrastructure – and Meta is at the forefront of building these innovative technologies. As AI continues to transform industries and societies around the world, it’s clear that capacity, resilience, and global reach are more important than ever to support leading infrastructure. With Project Waterworth, we can help ensure that the benefits of AI and other emerging technologies are available to everyone, regardless of where they live or work.

Project Waterworth reinforces Meta’s commitment to expanding global connectivity, ensuring sustainable, high-capacity infrastructure to support the next generation of AI-driven innovations.

Siemon introduces SN cord support, tripling fibre capacity in 1U panels and aligning with VSFF connector adoption in data centres. (Image source: Siemon)

Siemon, a leading provider of network infrastructure solutions, has announced its support for Very Small Form Factor (VSFF) connectors, starting with the SN cord

The SN cord marks a significant advancement in fibre connectivity, offering substantially higher density compared to traditional LC connectors. While a standard 1U 19-inch panel can house up to 144 fibres with LC connectors, integrating SN cords within the same space triples the capacity to 432 fibres.

Advancing fibre connectivity

“Siemon’s support for SN cords reflects our commitment to driving innovation and enabling higher-density fibre networks,” commented Peter Thickett, Siemon director, product management (Data Centres). “As active equipment manufacturers continue to adopt VSFF connectors to maximise port counts, our SN cord support ensures that structured cabling environments can align seamlessly with these advancements.”

Beyond delivering exceptional density with support for up to 432 fibres in a 1U panel, Siemon’s VSFF Connector Support offers custom jumper configurations to reduce excess cabling. Additionally, it features innovative compatibility with SN-LC cords incorporating Siemon’s LC BladePatch connector, allowing seamless integration with standard LC interfaces.

By prioritising SN cords, Siemon reinforces its forward-thinking approach to fibre connectivity while continuing to evaluate market demand for further VSFF solutions

CMC Networks secures B-BBEE Level 1 for fifth year, enhancing inclusive growth, skills development, and customer satisfaction in South Africa. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

CMC Networks, a global Tier-1 service provider, has achieved B-BBEE Level 1 status in South Africa for the fifth consecutive year

This accomplishment underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive business practices, enhancing customer satisfaction, and promoting economic fairness.

The attainment of Level 1 B-BBEE status brings significant benefits to CMC Networks’ stakeholders in South Africa, including a 135% procurement recognition. This allows CMC Networks’ clients to claim 135% of their expenditure towards their own B-BBEE score, improving their compliance. Additionally, the status provides key advantages, such as a stronger brand reputation, recognition, and growth potential.

"We are delighted to once again achieve the B-BBEE Level 1 status," said Marisa Trisolino, CEO of CMC Networks. "Securing this recognition for the fifth year in a row reflects our dedication to inclusive growth and improving experiences for our customers. It’s not just about compliance. It’s about making a real difference to local communities, businesses, and wider society."

Empowering growth opportunities 

B-BBEE is a South African government policy aimed at increasing black people's participation in the economy through areas such as business ownership, management, skills training, supplier development, and community engagement. CMC Networks actively contributes to skills development and career advancement programmes, particularly focusing on supporting unemployed youth. The company offers Bursaries, Learnerships, and globally recognised short courses to build a highly skilled workforce, providing individuals with the certifications and hands-on experience needed to accelerate their careers and support customers end-to-end.

"Real progress can only be made by empowering people with the right skills and opportunities," said Trisolino. "That’s why we prioritise skills development, leadership coaching, mentorship, and continuous learning at CMC Networks to provide ongoing opportunities and support. We put customers at the center of everything we do, and our B-BBEE Level 1 status is a vital component of our overall business strategy. Together, we are creating an even stronger team of experts that are ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow for our customers and partners."

CMC Networks offers a comprehensive range of connectivity solutions for businesses in some of the world’s most demanding markets. Their extensive network spans 51 of Africa’s 54 countries, 11 countries across the Middle East, and key interconnect locations in Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific.

Also read: https://communicationsafrica.com/internet/ntt-data-launches-smart-ai

AGCCI trained more than 600 young women across 32 African nations, helping them build careers and develop innovations in ICT. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Empowering young women in technology, the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) is bridging the digital gender gap in Tanzania

Through coding camps and mentorship, participants like Annagrace Malamsha and Flora Kagoma are gaining the skills to transform their careers and communities, proving that the future of ICT is inclusive.

“The AGCCI Coding Camp has been a life changer, and a core part of shaping my perception on pursuing careers within the Tech space,” said Malamsha.

She and Flora Kagoma are among 100 young women in Tanzania who exemplify the impact of the AGCCI “Binti Dijitali” program, which is transforming opportunities for girls in the country.

AGCCI is implemented by UN Women in partnership with the Ministries of Gender, ICT, and Education in both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, along with the African Union Commission and the International Telecommunication Union. Supported by the Government of Belgium, the program focuses on equipping young women aged 17 to 25 with coding and digital literacy skills.

During its initial phase (2018–2021), AGCCI trained more than 600 young women across 32 African nations, helping them build careers and develop innovations in ICT. The second phase, backed by the Government of Belgium and executed in collaboration with schools, NGOs, private sector entities, and government agencies, expanded the initiative to 11 countries, including Tanzania. Over 1,000 girls benefited from intensive coding camps covering fundamental programming skills and hands-on digital training.

According to UN Women Programme Specialist for Women’s Economic Empowerment, Lilian Mwamdanga, the initiative is designed to bridge the gender gap in digital skills, ensuring women and girls can remain competitive in the evolving job market.

"Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is emerging as a powerful tool for economic empowerment, creating opportunities in employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Yet, despite rapid digital advancements, women remain underrepresented in the tech sector,” she said. “By empowering them with the skills they need, we can help bridge this gap and create a more inclusive digital economy, where women and girls can contribute towards driving innovation and economic growth.”

After completing the coding camp, Malamsha applied her newly gained expertise to shift her career focus, integrating digital marketing into her professional journey.

“I was able to use what I learned from the coding camp to work as a freelance graphics designer, brand manager and social media manager.”

Since her participation in the programme, she has remained committed to giving back to her community. Her efforts include engaging in international initiatives that empower women and offering digital marketing training. She also co-founded SHEWORKS in Tech, an organization dedicated to setting up digital clubs in secondary schools to equip young innovators with essential skills.

“I want girls to know that coding and working in the ICT sector is not reserved for men,” Annagrace insisted. “We must challenge the status quo and address the gender divide, one training session at a time.”