Microsoft and Facebook has decided to partner to lay a high-speed Internet cable across the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Touted as MAREA, the cable work is expected to be completed by late 2017 and will provide stable, fast and reliable connectivity to meet the expectations of the growing number of companies.
Commenting on the initiative, Microsoft data center strategy general manager Christian Belady revealed that since the world is moving toward a future based on cloud computing, Microsoft continues to invest in our cloud infrastructure to meet current and future growing global demand for our more than 200 cloud services.
If commissioned, MAREA will be the highest-capacity sub-sea cable ever crossing the Atlantic, with an expected capacity of some 160 terabytes per second of data. The 6600 kilometer cable will provide connectivity to the United States and southern Europe, running from Northern Virginia to Bilbao, and Spain. Moreover, the data network will link to hubs in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and other parts of Europe from Spain.
Microsoft and Facebook are working with the global communications company Telxius, owned by Telefonica to implement the Undersea Internet Cable.
Responding to media, Facebook vice president of network engineering Najam Ahmad disclosed that the company is evaluating new technologies and systems to provide the best connectivity. These kind of projects are essential since it will allow better and trouble free connectivity.
To refresh, Microsoft has a 1.6 percent stake in Facebook with the company already paid $240 million nine years ago.
