AI Data Centers Reshape Global Submarine Cable Map
The growth of AI data centers is influencing investment in submarine cables, shifting focus towards new routes, particularly in India and Southeast Asia.
The expansion of AI infrastructure is altering the landscape of global submarine cables, leading to a reallocation of investment towards new routes and landing stations. As hyperscalers expand and cloud regions grow, the demand for international bandwidth is increasing, influencing the geography of cable connectivity.
DataM Intelligence estimates the global submarine cable systems market, valued at USD 30.30 billion in 2025, is projected to reach USD 70.43 billion by 2035, with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 8.8 percent. Key drivers identified include data center connectivity, AI traffic, cloud region expansion, and hyperscale investment in cables.
Hyperscalers such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon are increasingly involved in owning submarine cables to gain long-term control over infrastructure and improve cost visibility. Meta, for example, has been involved in projects linking multiple continents to support its AI-focused data centers.
The Asia-Pacific region, including India, Malaysia, and Singapore, is showing significant growth driven by data center investments. These areas are emerging as new connectivity corridors for AI traffic, with cable projects increasingly connecting data center clusters rather than solely population centers.