The underwater cables on which most of the internet traffic travel are in the hands of Big Tech

Little is spoken of of the underwater internet cables, making mistakes. From Telco to Big Tech: The panorama of submarine networks, on which 99% of intercontinental internet traffic (practical toilet) travel, has registered a surprising change in a few years to fully revolutionize the point of balance.

Big Tech’s Domain Surface Cables

Google, Meta, Microsoft and Amazon have become the most important investors And they continue to put record figures on the plate. Only these four companies represent more than 70% of all used international capacitiesA stunning increase when we consider that this was only 10%in the past decade. And the remaining 30% of the capacity is operated in almost all by the other American and Asian world technological companies, from digital giants to those from e-commerce to the big names in video streaming. The disadvantage of the terrestrial networks for the Telco, which connect the continents, that is the most important world communication infrastructures, the most strategic and valuable assets have therefore become “Dominion” by Big Tech. And in a very evolving geopolitical and geo -economic context, the question is not a short time.

A turnover of more than 15 billion dollars

According to the detections of Global market insights IThe turnover of the global market of submarine cable systems in 2024 was $ 15 billion And it is estimated that it will grow here with an annual rate of 10% until 2034. From Online World Map of TelegeographyAlmost in real time updated, you can get an idea of ​​the progress of the infrastructure. A new important milestone was reached in February, Telegeography himself announced: The roof of the 650 cable systems has been exceededof which 571 operational and 81 in design.

Signed by Meta the longest cable in the world

But the real news of the last days concerns the announcement of the Waterworth project from Meta that extends for more than 50 thousand km – a length higher than the circumference of the earth – that reach and become five continents The longest submarine cable in the world. All thanks to a “multimiliary” investment, Meta even said without specifying the amount that “It will reinforce the scope and reliability of World Digital Highways, so that three new oceans are opened to guide the innovation of artificial intelligence“. The longest cable in the world will therefore not only be the property of a single company, but of a company in Silicon Valley.”The project reinforces the economic and infrastructure power of the United States, which improves access to the markets of the southern hemisphere, supporting South South Connectivity, connects Latin America, Africa and the Middle East and increases the data trade between continents “remark Vili Lehdonvirta and Anniki Mikelsaar of the Etheror Institute of the University of Oxford.

Sparkle, the Italian jewel

And how are Europe? Most initiatives concentrate in the Mediterranean Sea area E Italy increases its weight and “value”. AND Italian one of the most important companies in the world: Sparkle. The company, present in 32 countries, has a ridge of optical fiber of more than 600 thousand km in Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and America. Sparkle was detected for 700 million by the Ministry of Economy and Revelit (the improvement of the sale by Tim is expected in the first quarter of 2026). AND has a strong partnership with Google Within the two projects Bluemed (which connects Italy with Jordan) and Blueraman (which extends in the middle -east to Mumbai, in India). With BlueMed for the first time, an international system passes through the street of Messina (instead of the Sicily channel) and follows a new path through Israel and Jordan (instead of Egypt), which sets up a new route between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. And the cable arrives in Genoa – connected per country with the digital ecosystem of Milan – and places itself as a strong alternative to the cable systems that land in Marseille from Asia. The role of the company in the context of the Mattei plan, since BlueMed is preparing to connect Noord -Africa is also decisive.

‘The submarine cables play a fundamental role for connectivity, competitiveness, the speed of defense and economic stability of Europe. We recommend the EU/EEA authorities and the United Kingdom, as well as NATO, to renew their cooperation to effectively face this situation, together with the EU interests and the United Kingdom“They write a group of operators in a letter to the European, British and NATO decision -makers, including Sparkle.

Among the Italian “emerging” Italians Who started with Azimut Unitedworm Project It provides for the realization and management of an underwater cable of more than 1,100 km in the Tyrrhenian Sea by connecting Mazara del Vallo, in Sicily, with Genoa, with two branches to Fiumicino, Lazio and Olbia, Sardinia. The project has just obtained a loan of 57 million By Intesa Sanpaolo and Banco BPM supported by the Archimedes of Sace.

The European Commission’s action plan

Meanwhile in February The European Commission has presented a plan that aims to strengthen the resilience of submarine networks. The plan uses 540 million euros in investments in the two-year period 2025-2027 that are added to the 420 million already assigned for 51 projects. The critical problems – Second The ITU, the UN agency for telecommunications, has reported an average of 150-200 errors every year At the global level and below this there are also the “sabotage” actions – which run the risk of causing serious interruptions of functions and essential services in the European Union. It is therefore necessary to equip yourself to keep growing threats also, given the geographical position of Europe, “bridge” between the West and the East, not to mention the strategic role of the Mediterranean Sea in which many of the investments are concentrated to increase the connecting routes to Africa, the middle East and Asia. “In response to the growing geopolitical tensions, in particular in regions such as the Baltic Sea, the European Commission is taking a decisive action to protect the critical infrastructures of submarine cables – He underlined Henna Virkkunen, EU Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty-. With this action plan we are taking an important step forward to strengthen safety. We want to ensure that Europe is not only equipped to prevent and detect sabotages to the cables, but also to discourage and respond to threats“.