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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
- Interview by Kieron Monks
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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.
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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Photos: What the Internet looks like: Undersea cables wiring ends of the Earth
The networked world underwater – CNN: Why is the network of cables growing so fast?
AM: Cables have been used as the main way to carry traffic since the Internet has been around. The change is more cables are being built to areas where they weren't before. In the past year, many cables were being built to the east coast of Africa, where it was all satellite. We're seeing cables to remote islands like Tonga and Vanuatu, bringing extremely small conurbations into the fiber network around the world. But there's still room for more cables to developed routes, as we need many on each path in case they break.
There are tons of cables between the major hubs of the world and you need different paths avoiding undersea fault zones, to land in different countries, and to avoid certain countries, for resilience and better performance.
AM: Cables have been used as the main way to carry traffic since the Internet has been around. The change is more cables are being built to areas where they weren't before. In the past year, many cables were being built to the east coast of Africa, where it was all satellite. We're seeing cables to remote islands like Tonga and Vanuatu, bringing extremely small conurbations into the fiber network around the world. But there's still room for more cables to developed routes, as we need many on each path in case they break.
There are tons of cables between the major hubs of the world and you need different paths avoiding undersea fault zones, to land in different countries, and to avoid certain countries, for resilience and better performance.
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Photos: What the Internet looks like: Undersea cables wiring ends of the Earth
The networked world underwater – CNN: What are the major problems that occur?
AM: 75% of faults are due to external aggression -- the majority through human activity such as fishing, and ship's anchors. There are also geological factors such as sub-sea earthquakes and landslides, shifting tectonic plates and typhoons.
During the 2011 tsunami in Japan about half of their cables had outages, but the operators were able to reroute capacity to other routes, so Japan held up very well. Last spring, there was damage in Mediterranean cables that linked East Africa to Europe. But it was many years ago that there was last a complete blackout.
AM: 75% of faults are due to external aggression -- the majority through human activity such as fishing, and ship's anchors. There are also geological factors such as sub-sea earthquakes and landslides, shifting tectonic plates and typhoons.
During the 2011 tsunami in Japan about half of their cables had outages, but the operators were able to reroute capacity to other routes, so Japan held up very well. Last spring, there was damage in Mediterranean cables that linked East Africa to Europe. But it was many years ago that there was last a complete blackout.
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Photos: What the Internet looks like: Undersea cables wiring ends of the Earth
The networked world underwater – CNN: How much damage can they do?
AM: In recent years the countries that have had impaired access are the ones with just one or two cables in place. African countries have been more at risk if there's an outage. Most countries are keen to provide reliable service and make efforts to have multiple paths. Islands like Tonga only have one cable so clearly if that's damaged they are stuck. Very few sizable populations rely on one or even two cables. Some may only have one but a terrestrial link as well
AM: In recent years the countries that have had impaired access are the ones with just one or two cables in place. African countries have been more at risk if there's an outage. Most countries are keen to provide reliable service and make efforts to have multiple paths. Islands like Tonga only have one cable so clearly if that's damaged they are stuck. Very few sizable populations rely on one or even two cables. Some may only have one but a terrestrial link as well
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Photos: What the Internet looks like: Undersea cables wiring ends of the Earth
The networked world underwater – CNN: How close to capacity are the cables?
AM: There is plenty of room to grow. There are about 13 cables in service across the Atlantic, and less than 20% of potential capacity is what we call "lit" or in service right now. There have been no new cables in the Atlantic since 2003, but the use is low because technology is advancing so that that potential capacity is increasing at the same time as use. Operators are constantly equipping the cables to carry more data. They can add more wavelengths which enhances the bit rates. There is no threat of exhaustion.
AM: There is plenty of room to grow. There are about 13 cables in service across the Atlantic, and less than 20% of potential capacity is what we call "lit" or in service right now. There have been no new cables in the Atlantic since 2003, but the use is low because technology is advancing so that that potential capacity is increasing at the same time as use. Operators are constantly equipping the cables to carry more data. They can add more wavelengths which enhances the bit rates. There is no threat of exhaustion.
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