US wants to let Google, Facebook parent Meta use Pacific undersea data cable to Asia

Biden administration backs access to undersea fibre-optic cable system connecting the US, Taiwan, the Philippines and Hong Kong

Google and Meta have pledged to protect the privacy and security of Americans’ data, particularly against Chinese intelligence operations

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Meta has sought permission to use the Philippines-to-US portion, while Google has asked for permission to connect to Taiwan. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:40pm, 18 Dec 2021Updated: 12:52pm, 18 Dec 2021

The US has recommended that Alphabet’s Google and Facebook parent Meta get permission to use a Pacific undersea cable system to handle growing internet traffic with Asia.

The Biden administration urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant licences for the companies to send and receive data on the existing 8,000-mile (12,875km) Pacific Light Cable Network. The undersea fibre-optic cable system connects the United States, Taiwan, the Philippines and Hong Kong.

Undersea cables transmit nearly all the world’s internet data traffic. Meta has sought permission to use the Philippines-to-US portion, while Google has asked for permission to connect to Taiwan.

The companies committed to protect the privacy and security of Americans’ data, particularly against Chinese intelligence operations.

The plan by Google and Meta abandoned a previous proposal to use the network’s cable to Hong Kong, which is controlled by Beijing. Multiple US government agencies recommended blocking that plan in 2020.