Google is planning to connect Israel and Saudi Arabia via fiber-optic cable as part of a larger internet infrastructure project, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
According to the report, the link would be established as part of a major network connecting Europe with India.
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The underwater cable project, called Blue Raman route after Indian physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, will be more than 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) long and is expected to cost $400 million.
If completed, the network would mark the first time two nations with no formal diplomatic ties will be linked directly as part of an internet infrastructure project. The project will need the approval of several regulatory bodies, as the cable will cross several borders.
The report comes as Google is locked with Facebook in a struggle to build more network capacity to support its surging user demand for videos, search results and other products.
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The news also followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's under-the-radar visit to Saudi Arabia on Monday, which saw the PM meet US State Secretary Mike Pompeo and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The visit was reportedly focused on seeking a united front against Iranian aggression in the region.
This article was first published by i24NEWS.
