Uganda government sued over social media tax

By Stephanie Busari, CNN

Updated 1937 GMT (0337 HKT) July 2, 2018

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The information age is powered by thin fiber-optic cables buried in the sea bed, spreading between continents to connect the most remote corners of the planet. These great arteries account for practically all of our international web traffic, and each one has been logged by Washington research firm <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Telegeography</strong></a> in its interactive Submarine Cable Map 2014. The company's research director<strong> Alan Mauldin</strong> told CNN about the world's underwater networks. Click through the gallery to find out more.<br />- Interview by <a href="https://twitter.com/KieronMonks" target="_blank"><strong>Kieron Monks</strong></a>
Photos: What the Internet looks like: Undersea cables wiring ends of the Earth
The networked world underwater – The information age is powered by thin fiber-optic cables buried in the sea bed, spreading between continents to connect the most remote corners of the planet. These great arteries account for practically all of our international web traffic, and each one has been logged by Washington research firm Telegeography in its interactive Submarine Cable Map 2014. The company's research director Alan Mauldin told CNN about the world's underwater networks. Click through the gallery to find out more.
- Interview by Kieron Monks
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<strong>CNN: Are we completely reliant on submarine cables?</strong><br /><strong>Alan Mauldin:</strong> Yes, for international communications, over 99% is delivered by undersea cables. It's a common belief that satellites are the future of how things are carried, but that hasn't been the case for quite some time. Satellites are used for broadcasting, and are useful for rural communities and very remote places. The main advantage of cable is it's a lot cheaper. Satellite capacity is limited so it's very expensive. Cables can carry a massive amount of data by comparison so it's a lot cheaper.<br />
Photos: What the Internet looks like: Undersea cables wiring ends of the Earth
The networked world underwater – CNN: Are we completely reliant on submarine cables?
Alan Mauldin: Yes, for international communications, over 99% is delivered by undersea cables. It's a common belief that satellites are the future of how things are carried, but that hasn't been the case for quite some time. Satellites are used for broadcasting, and are useful for rural communities and very remote places. The main advantage of cable is it's a lot cheaper. Satellite capacity is limited so it's very expensive. Cables can carry a massive amount of data by comparison so it's a lot cheaper.
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