From the link:

> Google is buying a piece of a new transpacific fiber optic cable

Only a half dozen or so companies actually own undersea fiber. It requires a huge amount of effort to lay and maintain including hundred million dollar cable ships.

Everyone (even Google) leases, or in this case buys, capacity on shared cables.

Google has the cash to lay their own now though.

Or just buy a company which does.

I wouldn't be surprised if they do so in the future.

What is the point? If they can tap the cables it seems like owning your own just causes a false sense of security.

It provides better legal grounds to sue.