Google Facebook and to build new subsea cables between the US and Southeast Asia

Tech Giant Google and social media giant Facebook are planning to build two substantial subsea cables that will link the US West Coast to Singapore and Indonesia, which is considered Southeast Asia's biggest economy and home to a growing number of smartphone users. These cables are named the Echo and Bifrost Trans-Pacific cable. These cables will increase the data capacity between the above-mentioned regions by 70 percent.

These cables will also increase internet reliability. Facebook is investing in both cables; Google is only investing in Echo. Both the companies have not revealed anything about the project costs as it is still subject to regulatory approvals. Both the firms are committed to bringing more people online to a faster and uninterrupted internet service. As part of this effort, Facebook is partnering with leading regional and global partners to build new cables.

The partners include Indonesian firms like Telin and XL Axiata and Singapore-based Keppel. The project aims to provide vital new connections between the Asia-Pacific region and North America.  The aim is for Echo to be completed by the end of 2023, while Bifrost will likely be finished by late 2024. This project will provide faster, better and uninterrupted internet services for its users.