Work on a critical segment of Meta’s massive 2Africa submarine cable project has stalled due to the escalating war in Iran.
This isn't just any cable; 2Africa is set to be the world's longest subsea system, a digital superhighway of roughly 45,000 km. The stalled portion, called PEARLS, is a 'festoon' system designed to connect multiple countries around the Persian Gulf, acting as a vital artery for the region's internet traffic.
The project was already walking a tightrope. Even before the war, Meta and its partners faced delays in two of the world's most sensitive maritime chokepoints: the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Reports from late 2025 confirmed that security issues and permit challenges were slowing things down. An EU report in early 2026 still listed the Persian Gulf festoon as a 'pending element,' meaning it was incomplete when the conflict began.
The situation turned critical in early March 2026. First, the war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran erupted. Second, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz—the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean—'closed' to shipping. This wasn't just a threat; attacks on commercial vessels followed, and mine-laying activities were reported.
The consequence was immediate and severe. Insurers withdrew coverage, and commercial traffic plummeted by over 80%. For the highly specialized cable-laying ships needed to finish the PEARLS festoon, the area became a no-go zone. What was previously a challenging delay became a complete work stoppage. The project is now effectively frozen until safe maritime access is restored.
Interestingly, the financial markets have had a muted reaction, with Meta's stock showing only modest declines. This is likely because 2Africa is a long-term project with costs shared among a consortium of companies. In response, regional players are now accelerating plans for terrestrial (overland) cable routes to bypass these maritime chokepoints, highlighting a strategic shift in how digital infrastructure is being planned.
- Submarine Cable: A fiber-optic cable laid on the sea bed between land-based stations to carry telecommunication signals across stretches of ocean and sea.
- Festoon: A type of submarine cable system that links multiple coastal landing points in a daisy-chain fashion, rather than a single long-haul route.
- Chokepoint: A narrow geographical passage, like the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic is concentrated, making it vulnerable to disruption.