American search engine giant, Google is building what is said to be the world’s longest submarine cable from the East Coast of the United States to Las Toninas, Argentina.

The submarine cable system will have additional landings in Praia Grande, Brazil and Punta del Este, Uruguay. Nearshore Americas is reporting that the cable network is being named after the legendary Brazilian writer, Maria Firmina dos Reis.

In a blog post, Google says the cable system will increase internet capacity significantly whilst accelerating the growth of digital economies across Latin America. Google is emphasising that the cable system is capable of running entirely from a single power source at one end of the cable if its other power sources become temporarily unavailable.

The American Silicon Valley firm has 16 such projects around the world, most of which have already completed with the remaining under construction. “With 12 fiber pairs, the cable will carry traffic quickly and securely between North and South America, giving users fast, low-latency access,” Google said.

Referring to the naming of the cable system after Maria Firmina, Google says, “with this cable, we’re thrilled to draw attention to her pioneering work and spirit.”

Firmina, who lived from 1825 – 1917, is a Brazilian abolitionist and author whose 1859 novel, Úrsula, depicted life for Afro-Brazilians under slavery. A mixed-race woman and intellectual, Firmina is considered Brazil’s first novelist.