Iran conflict delays Meta’s 2Africa undersea cable project — cable layer declares force majeure, says it can no longer safely operate in the Persian Gulf

The conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran has caused a delay in Meta's Africa2 undersea cable project, with Alcatel Submarine Networks declaring force majeure due to safety concerns in the Persian Gulf. While the core of the project is complete, the Pearls section intended to connect Persian Gulf states to Africa and Europe is still in progress. The project has faced previous disruptions, including delays in the Red Sea section due to Houthi strikes. The Pearls extension was seen as a substitute for the Red Sea corridor but has been impacted by the current conflict. Meta is also planning a new undersea cable project, Project Waterworth, to bypass geopolitical hotspots, but completion is expected to take several more years.