Meta continues to expand its global communications infrastructure with the development of ORCA, a new submarine cable spanning 12,000 kilometers that will connect Taiwan directly to the United States, with landing points in Toucheng (Taiwan), Hermosa Beach, and Manchester (California, USA). The system is expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2027.
A key project for traffic between the USA and Taiwan
Meta has noted that the accelerated growth of data traffic between Taiwan and the United States is the primary driver of the project. Unlike other long-haul cables, ORCA will not have intermediate landing points on islands for power supply, which influences its transmission capacity. Each of the six fiber pairs will have a capacity of 12.8 Tbps, resulting in an initial total of 76.8 Tbps.
Open and resilient architecture
ORCA is an open cable, meaning that each owner of a fiber pair will be able to operate and manage their own submarine line termination equipment (SLTE), while the power supply will be collectively managed. As Meta is the sole initial owner, it is likely to sell capacity to third parties to recoup its investment and share operating costs.
The cable will feature advanced branching architecture, with six fiber pairs in each branch, just like in the main trunk. According to industry analyst Roderick Beck, this will enhance the resilience of the system, as traffic can be redirected to another branch if one fails.
One more step in Meta’s global expansion
Meta already has a significant presence in the submarine cable sector, with projects like Echo, Bifrost, Havhinsten, Amite, and Anjana, in addition to 2Africa, which is already partially operational. ORCA adds to these efforts to strengthen global connectivity and reduce latency in international communications.
A milestone in the submarine infrastructure between the USA and Taiwan
Toucheng (Taiwan) is already a key landing point for other submarine cables such as APG, FLAG North Asia Loop, NCP, and PLCN, while Hermosa Beach (California) is home to landings for cables like Jupiter, Southern Cross NEXT, and SEA-US. However, ORCA will mark a milestone as the first submarine cable to land in Manchester (California).
The cable landing station in Hermosa Beach, which will serve as the connection point in the USA, was originally built by RTI Holdings before its bankruptcy in 2021 and was subsequently relaunched under the brand HMB IX.
Conclusion
ORCA represents a strategic investment for Meta, strengthening the communications infrastructure between Asia and North America. With an open and resilient design, the project will not only expand connectivity but also provide new opportunities for companies and Internet service providers seeking access to a high-capacity network in the Pacific.
Image source: Submarine Cable Map. More information: LinkedIn