How a Few Undersea Cables Connect the Entire Internet

Summary

The 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

00:00

🌐 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.

05:01

📡 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.

Keywords

💡Underwater Cable Infrastructure

Underwater cable infrastructure refers to the network of submarine cables that lie beneath the world's oceans and seas, providing critical internet connectivity between continents and islands. In the video, it is highlighted as the unsung hero of the internet, with the incident on March 30, 2016, demonstrating the dependency of 10 African countries on a single cable for their internet access.

💡ACE Cable

The ACE Cable, or Africa Coast to Europe Cable, is a specific submarine cable that was mentioned in the script as being cut accidentally, leading to a two-day internet blackout across several African countries. It stretches from France to South Africa, serving as a vital link for many western African nations, emphasizing the importance of this single cable to their internet connectivity.

💡International Internet Traffic

International Internet Traffic denotes the data exchanged between different countries over the internet. The script reveals that over 99% of this traffic is routed through submarine cables, showcasing their indispensable role in global communications and the internet's high bandwidth highways.

💡Optical Fiber

Optical fiber is a type of cable that transmits data as light signals, which is used in submarine cables for its high-speed capabilities. The video explains that these fibers are the means by which data is transmitted across the vast distances covered by undersea cables, with newer cables like the MAREA cable boasting transmission rates of up to 160 terabits per second.

💡Data Transmission Rates

Data transmission rates measure the speed at which data is sent over a network. The script illustrates the remarkable increase in these rates from an average of nine terabits per second five years prior to the video's recording, to the cutting-edge capabilities of newer cables that can handle rates of up to 160 terabits per second.

💡Submarine Cable Faults

Submarine Cable Faults refer to any disruptions or damages that occur within the undersea cables, which can lead to communication outages. The video provides insight into the common causes of these faults, such as fishing activities, anchoring issues, and natural disasters, and the necessity of repairing these critical communication lines.

💡Cable Laying

Cable laying is the process of installing submarine cables on the ocean floor. The script describes the meticulous process, which includes extensive seafloor surveys, the use of specialized trawlerships, and the deployment of sea plows to bury the cables for protection, highlighting the complexity and importance of this procedure.

💡Telegraphy

Telegraphy is the sending of textual messages through electrical signals, which was the precursor to modern internet communication. The video script mentions Samuel Morse, the developer of Morse code, who laid the first undersea cable in 1842 for telegraphy, marking the beginning of this crucial communication infrastructure.

💡Bandwidth Capacity

Bandwidth capacity refers to the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over a network in a given time. The video discusses how the increasing demand for internet capacity has driven the construction of new undersea cables, with companies like Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple contributing to nearly 70% of all internet traffic.

💡Internet Evolution

Internet Evolution describes the ongoing development and improvement of internet infrastructure and technology. The script invites viewers to consider how the internet's infrastructure might evolve in the coming decades, with the potential for new cables and technologies to meet the growing demands of internet users worldwide.

💡MAREA Cable

The MAREA Cable, named after the Spanish term for 'tide', is a state-of-the-art submarine cable mentioned in the script. It is owned and funded by Microsoft and Facebook, connecting Virginia Beach in the United States to Bilbao in Spain, and is capable of extraordinary data transmission rates, illustrating the advancement in undersea cable technology.

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

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