Meta paused work on part of a major subsea cable project designed to expand internet connectivity across Africa, as the war in the Middle East disrupts activity in the region. 

According to a Bloomberg report published on Thursday, Meta and its consortium partners, including Saudi Telecom Co.’s Center3, had planned to launch a segment of the cable. The route includes landing stations in Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Pakistan, India and Saudi Arabia.

However, work has been halted after Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), the French state-owned company responsible for laying the 2Africa fibre-optic cable, could no longer safely operate in the area, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Subsea cables carry more than 95% of global internet traffic and remain the fastest and most reliable way to transmit data.

Sources told Bloomberg that ASN issued force majeure notices to customers, informing them that it is currently unable to fulfil its cable-related contracts.

The company’s cable-laying vessel, Ile De Batz, which had been operating in the Persian Gulf in recent months, is now stranded near Dammam in Saudi Arabia, Bloomberg reported.

Meta disclosed about four months ago that it had paused work on a section of the 2Africa cable in the Red Sea due to attacks by Houthis and difficulties securing installation permits, Bloomberg reported.

The Persian Gulf served as the favoured substitute route until the recent regional escalation.