Meta Will Build Petal Subsea Cable by 2029
The 4,300-mile transoceanic cable will connect the United States and France with multi-core fiber.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Data Centers
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Meta plans to launch a new subsea cable named Petal by 2029 that will span 4,300 miles across the Atlantic. The project aims to enhance global connectivity between the United States and France using advanced multi-core fiber technology.
Why it matters
The Petal system is designed to provide massive data transmission capacity as demand for high-speed digital infrastructure continues to grow. By utilizing multi-core fiber, Meta intends to establish a high-bandwidth link capable of supporting intensive global data traffic.
The Petal cable will feature a transmission capacity of 1 petabit per second over a 4,300-mile span. The system uses multi-core fiber technology, a specialized architecture designed to increase data density beyond traditional single-core configurations.
The players
Meta
Meta is a technology company that develops social media platforms and invests heavily in global digital infrastructure.
The details
Meta is developing this infrastructure to facilitate high-speed data transmission between North America and Europe. The project relies on multi-core fiber, which allows for increased throughput compared to conventional subsea cables.
Timeline
The Petal cable is expected to come online in 2029.
The Tech Race
The deployment of Petal marks a significant move in the ongoing effort to upgrade subsea networking using multi-core fiber technology. This infrastructure competes with legacy single-core systems by drastically increasing the bandwidth available for trans-Atlantic traffic.
As this cable increases overall internet capacity, users may experience more stable connectivity for data-intensive services and cloud applications. The enhanced throughput supports the growing demand for high-definition streaming and global digital workflows.
The takeaway
The Petal cable signals a long-term investment in the physical backbone of the global internet to accommodate rising traffic volumes. For stakeholders, this project underscores the shift toward high-capacity, multi-core fiber as the new industry standard for transoceanic data transmission.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Data Centers.
More information
View the full Meta newsroom announcement regarding the upcoming subsea cable project.
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Do you believe large-scale investments in subsea internet infrastructure will improve digital life in your nation?
