How a Few Undersea Cables Connect the Entire Internet
Summary
TLDRThe video script reveals the world's surprising dependency on undersea cables for internet connectivity. It highlights the incident in 2016 when 10 African countries were disconnected for two days due to a single cable cut. The script explains the global network of over 420 submarine cables, their importance for high-speed data transmission, and the evolution of these cables from the first telegraph cable in 1842 to the cutting-edge Maria cable capable of 160 terabits per second. It also discusses the challenges in cable production, maintenance, and installation, emphasizing their crucial role in the internet's infrastructure for the foreseeable future.
Takeaways
- 🌐 The incident on March 30, 2016, where 10 African countries were offline for two days after a single cable was cut, highlights the world's dependency on undersea cable infrastructure for internet access.
- 🌍 The ACE cable, also known as the African Coast to Europe cable, is a critical link for many African countries, providing their main connection to the global internet.
- 🔌 Over 99% of international internet traffic is routed through a network of over 420 submarine cables, which underscores the importance of this infrastructure for global connectivity.
- 📈 The capacity of these cables has significantly increased over the years, with the average data transmission rate now at 35 terabits per second, up from nine terabits per second just five years prior.
- 🚀 Cutting-edge cables like the MAREA cable, funded by Microsoft and Facebook, can transmit data at rates of up to 160 terabits per second, showcasing the rapid advancement in cable technology.
- 🛠 The construction of submarine cables involves layers of materials for protection and functionality, including optical fibers, copper tubing for power, and various protective layers like polycarbonate and steel wires.
- ⚓ The process of laying cables is complex and requires special ships, extensive seafloor surveys, and careful deployment using sea plows for protection.
- 📚 The history of undersea cables dates back to 1842, with the first transatlantic telegraph cable laid in 1858, marking the beginning of a long evolution towards the modern internet infrastructure.
- 📈 The demand for internet capacity is expected to grow, with predictions suggesting half of the world's population will be internet users by 2020, driving the need for more and better undersea cables.
- 🏭 Companies like Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple, which account for nearly 70% of all internet traffic, are driving the construction of new cables to handle increased traffic demands.
- 🔮 Despite the potential of satellites to serve remote areas, undersea cables are expected to remain the backbone of the internet infrastructure for the foreseeable future.
Q & A
What significant event occurred on March 30, 2016, that affected internet access in Africa?
-On March 30, 2016, 10 African countries were taken offline for two full days after a single cable was inadvertently cut by a fishing trawler. This incident highlighted the world's dependency on undersea cable infrastructure for internet access.
What is the primary function of undersea submarine cables in the context of the internet?
-Undersea submarine cables provide international connections to servers abroad and connect continents and islands to the World Wide Web. They are the most critical piece of the internet infrastructure, despite the widespread use of wireless devices.
What is the name of the cable that was cut in the African internet incident of 2016?
-The cable that was cut is known as the African Coast to Europe cable, or the ACE cable, which was commissioned in 2012.
How many countries were directly affected by the cutting of the ACE cable in 2016?
-The cutting of the ACE cable affected internet access for nearly all of Western coastal Africa, including 17 countries such as Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, and others up to South Africa.
How much of international internet traffic is routed through submarine cables?
-Over 99% of all international internet traffic is routed through a network of over 420 submarine cables in service.
What is the approximate total length of the submarine cables in service around the world?
-The submarine cables in service stretch over 700,000 miles around the world, which is equivalent to wrapping a single cable over 28 times around the Earth's equator.
What is the average data transmission rate of the submarine cables?
-Submarine cables use optical fiber to provide average data transmission rates of 35 terabits per second, which is a significant increase from just over five years prior when the average was nine terabits per second.
What is special about the MAREA cable in terms of data transmission rates?
-The MAREA cable, owned and funded by Microsoft and Facebook, is capable of data transmission rates of up to 160 terabits per second, making it one of the fastest cables in operation.
What are the common causes of faults in submarine cables?
-Approximately 38% of faults occur because of fishing activities, 25% from anchorage issues, and only 6% of faults are derived from actual cable failures.
What is the average lifespan of a submarine cable?
-Most submarine cables have an average lifespan of 25 years, although many are retired early due to becoming obsolete as bandwidth capacities become too slow.
What are the main components and their purposes in the construction of a submarine cable?
-A submarine cable starts with an optical fiber for data transmission, coated with petroleum jelly for lubrication and stability. It includes a copper tubing for protection and power, and is followed by protective layers such as polycarbonate, an aluminum water barrier, steel wires, mylar tape, and a tar coating for ruggedness and protection.
How is the process of laying a submarine cable initiated?
-The process begins with an extensive survey of the sea floor to map the cable route. A special trawlership carries and reels out the cable as it travels along the mapped route, with a sea plow towing behind to bury the cable for protection.
What was the historical significance of the first undersea cable laid in 1842?
-The first undersea cable, laid in 1842, was a telegraph cable submerged in New York Harbor by Samuel Morse, the developer of Morse code. It marked the beginning of undersea communication technology.
What is the projected increase in internet users by 2020 according to historical trends?
-Historical trends and predictions place half of the world's population as internet users by the year 2020.
What are the main drivers behind the construction of new undersea cables?
-The main drivers behind the construction of new undersea cables are the increasing demand for internet capacity, connectivity, and low latency to handle the growing traffic demands from major internet companies.
Which companies are responsible for nearly 70 percent of all internet traffic and are investing in new undersea cables?
-Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple are the companies responsible for nearly 70 percent of all internet traffic and are investing in new undersea cables to handle increased traffic demands.
Outlines
🌐 The Fragility of Global Internet Connectivity
This paragraph discusses the vulnerability of internet access, exemplified by the incident on March 30, 2016, where ten African countries were disconnected from the internet for two days due to a single cable cut. It emphasizes the world's reliance on undersea cables, particularly the ACE cable, for international internet connections. The paragraph also highlights the rapid growth in data transmission rates and the physical aspects of these cables, including their construction, protection, and the challenges they face in the marine environment.
📡 The Evolution and Future of Undersea Cables
The second paragraph delves into the history of undersea cables, starting with the first cable laid in 1842. It outlines the progression from telegraph to the modern internet, noting the exponential increase in bandwidth capacity. The paragraph predicts further growth in internet usage and the construction of new cables to meet rising demands, mentioning the involvement of major tech companies. It concludes by acknowledging the enduring importance of undersea cables to the internet infrastructure and invites viewers to consider and share their thoughts on its future development.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Underwater Cable Infrastructure
💡ACE Cable
💡International Internet Traffic
💡Optical Fiber
💡Data Transmission Rates
💡Submarine Cable Faults
💡Cable Laying
💡Telegraphy
💡Bandwidth Capacity
💡Internet Evolution
💡MAREA Cable
Highlights
On March 30, 2016, 10 African countries were cut off from the internet for two days after a single undersea cable was accidentally severed by a fishing trawler.
The world is highly dependent on undersea cable infrastructure for internet access, despite the widespread use of wireless devices.
The specific cable cut, known as the ACE cable, connects France to South Africa and serves nearly all of Western coastal Africa.
Many African countries rely solely on the ACE cable for their internet connectivity.
Over 99% of international internet traffic is routed through a network of over 420 submarine cables, spanning over 700,000 miles.
The average data transmission rate of these cables is 35 terabits per second, a significant increase from just nine terabits per second five years prior.
The MAREA cable, funded by Microsoft and Facebook, can transmit data at rates of up to 160 terabits per second.
Submarine cables are typically 3 to 4 inches in diameter, with the actual data-carrying fiber no thicker than a human hair.
Approximately 100 cable faults occur annually, with the majority due to fishing activities, anchor issues, and actual cable failures.
Most submarine cables last an average of 25 years but are often retired early due to becoming obsolete from slower bandwidth capacities.
Submarine cables must be capable of withstanding extreme pressures at depths of up to 8,000 meters.
The cable's structure includes layers for protection, signal amplification, and durability against various threats including marine life and sharks.
Laying a cable involves a detailed survey, a special trawlership, and a sea plow to bury the cable for protection.
The first undersea cable was laid in 1842, enabling telegraph communication between New York Harbor.
The first transatlantic telegraph cable was laid in 1858, reducing communication time between the US and the UK from weeks to minutes.
By 2022, 35 new cables are expected to be operational to handle increased internet traffic demands from major tech companies.
Undersea cables will continue to be the backbone of the internet for decades, despite the potential of satellites to serve remote areas.
Transcripts
on march 30 of 2016 10 african countries
were taken completely offline for two
full days after just one cable was
inadvertently cut by a lone fishing
trawler you may be surprised to learn
just how dependent the world is on
underwater cable infrastructure for
internet access although many of us
consistently use wireless devices the
most critical piece of the internet is
the network of undersea submarine cables
that provide international connections
to servers abroad and connect continents
and islands to the world wide web the
specific cable cut in the african
internet incident was the african coast
to europe cable or better known as the
ace cable commissioned in 2012 this
cable stretches 10 500 miles from france
to south africa to provide internet
connections to nearly all of western
coastal africa including mauritania
senegal gambia sierra leone liberia
guinea mali niger ivory coast ghana
benin nigeria cameroon equatorial guinea
gabon the democratic republic of congo
angola nambia and the country of south
africa many of these countries rely
solely on the ace cable to stay
connected to the world and without it
cease to have a means of reliable
communication this begs the greater
question as to just how many of these
cables exist and how dependent is the
world wide web on this underwater
infrastructure today over 99 of all
international internet traffic is routed
through a network of over 420 submarine
cables in service stretching over 700
000 miles around the world
this is equivalent to wrapping a single
cable over 28 times around the earth's
equator this vast network of cables
provides the underlying infrastructure
to the internet's high bandwidth
highways these cables use optical fiber
to provide average data transmission
rates of 35 terabits per second which is
crazy because just over five years ago
the average data rate was only nine
terabits per second which equates to
nearly a four times increase some of the
newer and most cutting-edge cables such
as the maria cable which in spanish
stands for high tide are even faster
this cable which is owned and funded by
microsoft and facebook connects virginia
beach virginia in the united states to
bilbao spain and is capable of data
transmission rates of up to 160 terabits
per second this is the equivalent of
streaming 71 million hd videos at the
same time and it is 16 million times
faster than the average home internet
connection the makeup and production of
these cables is also extremely important
submarine cables are typically thick in
size with most being three to four
inches in diameter while the actual wire
the internet runs across is typically no
thicker than a human hair this is
because the majority of the cable's
purpose is strictly for protection with
roughly 100 cable faults found every
year repair of existing cables is an
absolute necessity
of these faults
38 of the faults occur because of
phishing activities 25 from anchorage
issues and just 6 of faults are derived
from actual cable failures most cables
will last an average of 25 years however
many are retired early because the
bandwidth capacities provided become too
slow and therefore are obsolete these
submarine cables must comply with strict
electrical standards in order to be
installed underwater at depths of as
much as 8 000 meters to traverse the
mid-atlantic ridge cables must be
capable of handling the extreme
pressures that these environments
require as an example the pressure at
these depths is the equivalent of trying
to hold up an entire car with just your
thumb additionally the cables must
account for rocky seabeds marine animals
tsunamis volcanoes and even the
occasional shark as a result of these
threats the majority of the cable's
makeup is just for protection to break
it down further the cable starts with
the optical fiber itself which is the
means by which the data is transmitted
these fibers are then coated with
petroleum jelly for lubrication and to
keep the fiber firmly in place within
the larger cable assembly the next layer
is a copper tubing which is used to not
only provide the next layer protection
but is also used to power the cable yes
this is an active cable due to the
extreme lengths of underwater internet
cables the light inside the optical
fibers must be boosted every 50 or so
miles to amplify the signal and prevent
data loss
after these core layers the remaining
layers are strictly for protection and
include the polycarbonate layer the
aluminum water barrier thick stranded
steel wires a layer of mylar tape and
tar coating for ruggedness and
protection the process of laying the
cable is equally as important as the
production of the cable the laying of
the cable is performed by a special
trawlership that is capable of carrying
giant spools of internet cables and
unrealing them as it passes from shore
to shore the first step to laying the
cable requires an extensive survey be
performed at the sea floor to map the
route for which the cable will be laid
after being loaded onto a ship's hole in
large spools the reels will be unwound
as the ship travels along the mapped
route a sea plow is towed along the back
of the ship as well to aid in bearing
the cable a few inches below the surface
for added protection at the end of the
installation process extensive testing
and inspection of the cable is performed
before the cable is put into service now
you may be wondering when this vast
network of undersea cables began
surprisingly enough the first underseat
cable was laid over
177 years ago all the way back in 1842
when samuel morris the developer of
morse code and commercial telegraphy
decided to submerge a cable insulated
with hemp and india rubber in the
waters of new york harbor to run a
telegraph through it after a successful
experiment it wasn't long after this in
1858 when the first transatlantic
telegraph cable was laid between the
united states and great britain this
connection with endpoints in
newfoundland and ireland allowed
communication between the transatlantic
shipping companies to go from a matter
of weeks to just a matter of minutes the
demand for internet capacity is only set
to increase as new consumers and
industrial devices turn online over the
next few decades most predictions place
half of the world's population as
internet users by next year in 2020.
historically bandwidth capacity
connectivity and low latency have all
been the drivers behind the construction
of undersea cables by the year 2022
there are 35 new cables slated to be
turned online in order to handle the
increased traffic demands from some of
the largest companies such as alphabet
microsoft amazon facebook and apple all
of which combined are responsible for
nearly 70 percent of all internet
traffic although there are opportunities
for satellites to serve more
disadvantaged areas of the world where
physical links are not practical or
possible undersea cables will continue
to remain the backbone of the internet
for decades to come thanks for taking
the time to watch this video what ways
do you expect the internet's
infrastructure will evolve over the next
few decades leave your comments below
and be sure to share like and subscribe
if you've not already done so
you
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