Meta has announced a new subsea cable project, Candle, aimed at strengthening internet infrastructure across East and Southeast Asia. The company also shared updates on several ongoing connectivity projects in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, including the completion of the Bifrost cable system. These developments are part of Meta’s plan to expand global internet capacity and support emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
Expanding digital connectivity in APAC
The APAC region accounts for over 58% of the world’s internet users, making reliable and high-capacity networks critical for supporting economic growth and innovation. Meta said it is committed to building infrastructure that enables advanced digital experiences and access to emerging technologies.
Earlier this year, Meta unveiled Project Waterworth, its most ambitious subsea cable initiative to date. Designed to link five continents by the end of the decade, Project Waterworth will support future global connectivity demands, including those driven by AI and data-intensive applications.
Meta’s latest investments focus on improving intra-Asia and transpacific connections. Once completed, these cables will play a crucial role in delivering Meta’s products and services, as well as boosting network resilience for billions of people across the region.
Candle: the largest capacity subsea cable in APAC
Candle, set to launch in 2028, will connect Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Spanning 8,000 kilometres, it is expected to provide a total capacity of 570 terabits per second (Tbps), making it the largest of its kind in the APAC region. Candle will use advanced 24 fibre-pair cable technology, which allows for higher bandwidth and improved efficiency. The system is being developed in collaboration with major regional telecommunications companies and will rival the capacity of Meta’s current flagship cable, Anjana.
Progress on Bifrost, Echo and Apricot
Meta also confirmed the completion of Bifrost, one of two subsea cables announced in 2021 to boost transpacific capacity by 70%. Bifrost now links Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the United States, with an extension to Mexico planned for 2026. By taking a new route across the Pacific, Bifrost adds more than 260 Tbps of redundancy, helping to secure one of the busiest digital corridors.
Echo, another key transpacific system, currently provides 260 Tbps between Guam and California and is expected to expand further into Asia. Meanwhile, Apricot, a 12,000-kilometre system connecting Japan, Taiwan, and Guam, is now operational and will extend to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore in future phases. With a projected capacity of 290 Tbps, Apricot will complement Bifrost and Echo to improve regional resilience and performance.
Together, these systems will enable stronger connections between Asia and the Americas, while also integrating with other global projects such as 2Africa and Project Waterworth to improve links with India, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.
Building resilient global networks
Meta said these investments reflect its long-term strategy to create a robust and scalable global network. By working with partners across the telecommunications sector, the company aims to deliver faster and more reliable access to its platforms and services. The enhanced infrastructure will support the growing demand for data, especially as AI-driven applications become more widely adopted.
The company emphasised that reliable, high-speed connectivity is essential for economic growth and digital innovation across APAC. Strengthened networks will not only help deliver Meta’s products but also benefit businesses and consumers in the region.
