Meta Halts African Internet Expansion Amid Middle East Conflict
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 13 2026
0mins
Should l Buy META?
Source: seekingalpha
- African Internet Expansion Paused: Meta Platforms has paused its internet service expansion efforts in Africa due to the freezing of activities in the region caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict, a decision made less than six months after the 2Africa project faced delays due to geopolitical tensions, highlighting the company's vulnerability in complex international situations.
- 2Africa Project Delays: The 2Africa project, which aims to connect East and West Africa through a continuous underwater cable system linking Africa to the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe, is currently facing significant delays due to geopolitical factors, potentially impacting Meta's long-term strategic positioning in the African market.
- US Tech Firms Scaling Back Operations: As tensions escalate between the US and Iran, many American tech firms are scaling back operations in Dubai, with Meta's pause mirroring the situation of other companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS), which suspended normal operations after drone strikes affected its data centers, indicating broader industry risks.
- Service Disruption Impact: The drone strikes on two AWS data centers in the UAE have led to significant service disruptions in the region, and Meta's pause may exacerbate the delays in building internet infrastructure in Africa, affecting future market competitiveness and user access capabilities.
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Analyst Views on META
Wall Street analysts forecast META stock price to rise
44 Analyst Rating
37 Buy
6 Hold
1 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 616.810
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
Current: 616.810
Low
655.15
Averages
824.71
High
1117
About META
Meta Platforms, Inc. is building human connections, powered by artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. The Company's products enable people to connect and share with friends and family through mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) headsets, augmented reality (AR), and wearables. It also helps people discover and learn about what is going on in the world around them, enabling people to share their experiences, ideas, photos, videos, and other content with audiences ranging from their closest family members and friends to the public at large. The Company's segments include Family of Apps (FoA) and Reality Labs (RL). FoA segment includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads. RL segment includes its virtual, augmented, and mixed reality related consumer hardware, software and content. Its product offerings in VR include its Meta Quest devices, as well as software and content available through the Meta Horizon Store.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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