Nara Lokesh Cheers Meta’s Waterworth Subsea Cable Project Landing in Vizag, Boosting India’s AI and Data Hub Status

Visakhapatnam, October 10, 2025 – In a major boost for India’s digital infrastructure, global tech giant Meta Platforms has announced plans to route its groundbreaking subsea cable project, Waterworth, through Visakhapatnam, positioning the city as a pivotal landing point for one of the world’s longest and most advanced undersea fiber-optic networks. The development, highlighted in today’s Economic Times report and celebrated by Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh on X, follows Google’s similar commitment to the region, cementing Vizag’s status as India’s emerging AI and data capital.

Project Waterworth, unveiled by Meta in February 2025, spans over 50,000 kilometers—longer than Earth’s circumference—and will connect the U.S., India, Brazil, South Africa, and other key regions with unprecedented high-capacity connectivity. Designed with 24 fiber pairs (double the typical 8-16), the W-shaped route bypasses high-risk areas like the Red Sea, incorporating innovative burial techniques for resilience against geopolitical and environmental threats. Expected to land in 2030, the multi-billion-dollar initiative aims to support AI innovation, economic cooperation, and digital inclusion, with India’s digital economy—already growing at 20% annually—poised to benefit immensely.

Lokesh, in his tweet, expressed delight at the news, stating, “First @Google, now @Meta! Happy to see in the @EconomicTimes today that Meta is planning to bring its subsea cable project ‘Waterworth’ to #Vizag. This will further establish Vizag as India’s AI city and data city.” He credited the state’s proactive policies under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for attracting such investments, noting Vizag’s strategic coastal location and robust ecosystem as ideal for global tech giants.

The project, partnered with Sify Technologies for India’s landing under a $5 million contract, will enhance data sovereignty and speed, facilitating faster AI processing and cloud services. Meta’s move mirrors Google’s Blue-Raman cable, also docking in Vizag, and aligns with India’s push for self-reliant digital infrastructure amid rising global demand. With Hyderabad and Bengaluru as other hubs, Vizag’s inclusion could generate thousands of jobs in data centers and tech services, supporting the state’s goal of 1 million AI-skilled workers by 2030.

This announcement arrives as India ramps up subsea capacity, with over 95% of intercontinental traffic relying on such cables. Experts hail Waterworth for its role in mitigating risks like Houthi attacks, ensuring resilient global data highways. As Vizag evolves into a tech powerhouse, Lokesh’s vision of an “AI city” gains momentum, promising economic transformation for Andhra Pradesh.