A massive data cable is to be built across the Atlantic running from Virginia Beach in the United States to Bilbao in Spain.

The project, announced by Microsoft and Facebook, is the latest in a series of major cable projects which have become necessary because of the growing demand for internet bandwidth.

Known as MAREA, it will be the fastest cable ever to cross the Atlantic. Construction is due to begin in August, with the work being completed in October next year.

It will be operated by Telxius, a subsidiary of the Spanish telecommunications and broadband giant, Telefónica.

About the width of a garden hose, it will significantly increase the amount of data which can be carried across the Atlantic.

Around a dozen high capacity cables are being laid across the oceans by high-tech companies.

"We want to do more of these projects in this manner — allowing us to move fast with more collaboration," said Najam Ahmad, Facebook’s vice president of network engineering.