Red Sea conflict delays Google and Meta's undersea cables, disrupting Africa and Asia broadband expansion.

Google and Meta face delays in major undersea cable projects, including Meta’s 2Africa and Google’s Blue-Raman, due to ongoing security risks in the Red Sea. Conflict and missile attacks by Houthi forces have forced rerouting of cable-laying ships, disrupting construction and hindering broadband expansion in Africa and Asia. The Red Sea is a critical hub for global internet traffic, and the instability has increased costs, delayed monetization, and prompted companies to explore alternative overland routes through Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.