The internet is responsible for by connecting each other and network, it made the world a global village but have you ever wondered how internet transmits and make us accessible to the globe we live today? Beneath that blue water is a network that makes this happen—connecting continents and controlling our digital lives.
Ever wondered how your texts, videos, and emails are sent around the world in seconds? We find the answer at sea, in a web of underwater cables connecting 99% of international internet traffic. They're these miles-long stretches of copper connecting series to continents, free from the dependence of human vulnerability that has plagued communication, fast and reliable.
Sea cables consist of fiber optics, microscopic strands of glass that transmit data as pulses of light. It can transmit hundreds of terabits, enough for millions of video calls, emails, and streaming services in parallel across the cable. They are installed on the sea bed through special vessels and are often buried for protection purposes. While they are small — average 2 to 3 cm in diameter — it is their centrality to global communication that matters.
We have cemented our communications platforms using the help of Tech Giants like Google, Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft.
Google has approved a number of undersea cable projects since 2008. The “Faster” cable completed in 2016 links Japan and the U.S. with 60 terabits data transfer. The company also launched the ‘Grace Hopper’ cable in 2022, linking the U.S. to Europe, ensuring faster connections for its services like YouTube and Gmail.
Amazon
AWS (Amazon Web Services), Amazon’s cloud service, Amazon helped build the “Jupiter” cable, completed in 2020, linking the U.S. to Japan. These cables have turned out to be a significant component to its e-commerce services.
Meta, earlier known as Facebook, teamed up with Microsoft and Google on the “Marea” cable, launched in 2017, which connects Virginia to Spain. The Instagram which you scroll mindlessly on, is because of this cable. The 160 terabits per second cable boosts Facebook’s global services.
Microsoft
Microsoft’s Azure platform is supported by undersea cables like the “TE Subcom” cable, which connects the U.S. to Japan. Microsoft also explores innovative projects, like Project Natick, which tests underwater data centres to reduce energy consumption.
Why Use Undersea Cables?
Fiber optic cables are the ones that are lest affected by weather or space are faster and more reliable than satellite or wireless connections. They can transmit data at the speed of light, handle much higher bandwidth, and are less affected by weather or space debris.
With over 200 submarine cables currently in operation and more planned, the demand for global connectivity continues to grow. As companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft invest in new cables, the internet will only get faster, more efficient, and more connected, keeping the world closer than ever before.
