I wonder if the NSA has already tapped in.

Presumably Microsoft/Facebook are slightly less enthusiastic about willingly giving them access than the old school telcos.

this is why the USS Jimmy Carter exists. The NSA doesn't necessarily need active cooperation to colocate equipment at cable landing station/adjacent to the DWDM terminals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Jimmy_Carter

"The whole concept of the telecom carrier as the provider of the network is going to disappear". I personally doubt this will become true, at least in Spain, whereas Telefonica has such a large market and influence, politically and economically talking.

However, it's true this could lead to colosal changes on this market forward-looking. Where are the governments in all this?

Well, this cable was laid out by Telxius (a Telefónica Co.) So things are changing.

I can only think in paperclip terms right now, are they paying this with yomi, creat, ops, clips, or still plain $$$?

So net neutrality applies to their networks too right?

If they were offering transit services as a common carrier, and enjoyed the associated protections, absolutely.