Hyperscalers’ subsea investment can help operators to improve services and reach new markets but is also a threat
"Hyperscaler investments in subsea cable reflect a steady incursion into a market that operators once held as their own, and hyperscalers are known for using their size to try to dominate the markets in which they operate."
The number of cables deployed with hyperscaler involvement has been rising since 2010. The number of new cables has also been rising year-on-year. By the end of 2026, Analysys Mason expects that there will be at least 40 subsea cables in service or ready for service that will have been funded or part-funded by a hyperscaler.
This article discusses how future hyperscaler investment can enable network operators to improve their services or open up new routes, but explains why this investment is also a risk for operators.
Author
Simon Sherrington
Research Director, expert in fibre infrastructure and sustainabilityRelated items
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