Google, Amazon, and Meta now own private subsea cables that ferry their own traffic between the US, Europe, and beyond. The new links, including Google’s two Atlantic cables and Amazon’s 320‑terabit Fastnet, promise faster speeds for AI and cloud services.

These private highways risk a dual‑tier seabed, where hyperscalers control critical paths while traditional operators handle general traffic. Investors face heightened supply‑chain risk as national governments debate control over this essential infrastructure.

With the US and China already jostling for cable dominance, the move could trigger regulatory backlash and reshape global internet governance. The industry must decide whether to maintain open, shared routes or cede control to a handful of tech firms.