The internet as we know it wouldn’t exist without the vast, invisible network of subsea cables lying deep beneath the ocean’s surface. Stretching across thousands of kilometres, these cables are the arteries of the global digital economy, carrying over 95% of the world’s data traffic.
As of 2025, TeleGeography research indicates that there are 570 in-service subsea cable systems worldwide, with an additional 81 systems planned, marking a record high within the last two decades. This explosive growth is being driven by soaring global data demand, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI), and the need for more resilient, high-capacity connectivity.
Surge in investment
According to TeleGeography’s Transport Networks Research Service, investment in subsea cables has accelerated at an unprecedented pace. Over the past nine years, an average of $2 billion has been spent annually on new cable construction. However, between 2025 and 2027, more than $13 billion in additional subsea cables are expected to come online.
Unlike the early 2000s, when state-backed enterprises and telecom consortiums dominated, the investment landscape has changed. Today, technology giants like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft are leading the charge, building private subsea cables to directly interconnect their global data centre networks and deliver low-latency, high-capacity services to users worldwide.
Several factors are driving this surge in subsea infrastructure, namely exponential data growth, content provider dominance, network resilience, and the ageing of existing subsea cable infrastructure.
The internet’s traffic is doubling every two years, demanding faster and denser connections. Tech giants now account for most of the subsea bandwidth consumption, prompting them to build their own cables instead of leasing capacity. Enterprises increasingly require mesh networks that span multiple cables to ensure business continuity during outages. Some legacy cables are nearing the end of their lifespan, requiring next-generation systems with vastly higher capacity and lower unit costs.
Shaping the future of connectivity
Various trends are shaping the future of subsea connectivity, including the rise of interconnection within data centres, geographic diversity and network resilience, technological advancements, sustainability and climate resilience, and security and maintenance.
Subsea cables no longer connect countries – they also connect data centres. With AI workloads, streaming platforms, and cloud computing demanding massive throughput, large ecosystem data centres have become critical points of presence for subsea cable operators. The closer a business is to these hubs, the lower its latency, and the faster its access to global markets.
Many routes are being built to connect previously underserved regions, particularly Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. By diversifying routes, operators reduce the risk of single points of failure and enhance disaster recovery capabilities.
New cable technologies are enabling faster data transfer speeds, increased capacity, and better durability. Improved fibre designs, advanced materials, and innovative deployment methods are allowing operators to manage greater demands and navigate challenging seabed conditions.
Climate change has created new risks, including stronger ocean currents, severe storms, and increased seabed instability. In response, cable operators are burying cables deeper, using reinforced designs, and selecting routes more carefully to strike a balance between environmental impact and connectivity needs
With an average of 150 to 200 cable faults reported globally every year, proactive monitoring and maintenance are more critical than ever. Furthermore, national security concerns have prompted increased investment in physical and cybersecurity measures to protect the world’s digital backbone.
Africa’s role in the global subsea ecosystem
Africa is experiencing a subsea cable connectivity revolution, fuelled by major investments in new cable systems on both the East and West coasts. With multiple new cables landing in the region, including 2Africa and Google’s Equiano, local businesses now have access to unprecedented levels of bandwidth and interconnection. Numerous cables, such as ACE, EASSy, METISS, SAT3/SAFE, Seacom, and WACS are also contributing to improved connectivity in the region.
Within this ecosystem, Teraco’s network-dense data centre infrastructure has become a cornerstone of Africa’s internet backbone. Its facilities host over 250 network providers, including all major subsea cable operators traversing the continent
This creates a massively interconnected environment where clients can switch instantly between network providers during cable outages, access alternative routes across both coasts to maintain uptime, and cross-connect directly with carriers, ISPs, and cloud platforms at scale.
NAPAfrica, one of the top seven global Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), operates within our ecosystem, enabling networks, ISPs, and content providers to exchange traffic directly. During subsea cable outages, NAPAfrica has consistently managed surges in traffic volumes, maintaining critical services and supporting seamless internet access for millions.
Building a more resilient future
“Subsea cables form the backbone of our connected world, but they are only as powerful as the infrastructure they link to,” Teraco said. “We’re enabling enterprises, service providers, and hyperscalers to unlock the full potential of this global network through resilient interconnection, scalable capacity, and a data centre ecosystem purpose-built for the digital age.”
As investment in subsea cables continues to accelerate, the convergence of data centres, subsea infrastructure, and edge connectivity will define the next chapter of global digital transformation.
