Delays in Undersea Cable Projects by Meta and Google

Meta and Google are currently experiencing significant delays in their large undersea cable projects. According to Bloomberg, these delays are attributed to a mix of operational difficulties, regulatory requirements, and geopolitical risks.
The 2Africa system from Meta aims to connect Africa with Europe and Asia, but challenges have arisen while laying the cable across the southern Red Sea. Regional conflicts and permit acquisition issues have stalled the construction of a critical segment.
Similarly, the Blue-Raman system supported by Google has faced setbacks. Originally started in 2021, it was expected to be operational by 2024, linking France, Italy, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and India. The company has yet to announce new timelines for completion.
Other cable projects in the Red Sea are also delayed, with construction repeatedly halted due to rocket attacks attributed to Houthi forces and the need to reroute. According to Telegeography, operators are compelled to purchase traffic on alternative networks as they cannot utilize their own investments.
Meanwhile, both Meta and Google assert that these issues will not affect other already announced undersea systems. Google continues construction of a cable between Togo and Europe across the Atlantic, while Meta is working on a global cable route that will connect five continents and does not traverse the Red Sea.