Do you know the joke about sharks biting undersea cables? Obviously, they're not always the culprit, but cable faults happen every year and they can be disruptive to our region. Now, Facebook and Google plan to alleviate the issue by building more cables.
According to Reuters, the two companies are planning to build two new undersea cables that connect Singapore and Indonesia to North America, which should reduce the burden on existing cables. In other words, it also indirectly improves Internet connectivity of other countries to servers in the American countries.
Facebook claims that it would increase overall subsea capacity between the two regions by about 70%. These cables are expected to be ready by 2023 and 2024 respectively, with each cable being built by different companies. Facebook, is partnering up with Google and XL Axiata to connect the first cable (Echo) to Singapore. As for the second cable (Bifrost), it's a project between Facebook, Telin, and Keppel.
Of course, this doesn't guarantee that Internet connectivity between Malaysia and North America would be better. It does look to be the case, but what do you think? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.
COMMENTS