What’s powering the modern Internet today?
Sure, Wi-Fi and fiber optics are household names, but underwater cables are the unsung heroes, enabling 99% of global data traffic.
Hundreds of thousands of kilometers of cables lie beneath the ocean’s surface, stretching from one continent to another, sometimes at depths of nearly 8,000 meters, carrying vital information that connects the entire world.
But there’s more to these cables than just technology. There’s history, art, and even mystery hidden beneath the waves.
If you’re reading this article, it’s likely you’ve sent or received data today—whether checking social media, reading an article, or streaming a video.
But did you know that all of that data is being carried across vast oceanic distances by submarine cables, some of which date back to the mid-1800s?
From transatlantic communication to global business transactions, these cables are the backbone of the digital economy.
And now, thanks to TeleGeography, a telecommunications market research firm, you can take a breathtaking journey into this hidden world with their new map that depicts the entire global submarine cable network—all presented through a unique, vintage lens that brings the past and present together.
So, let’s dive deeper into how these cables work, why they’re indispensable to the global economy, and the fascinating stories behind their creation.
A New Vintage Map: The Renaissance Meets Modern Technology
Submarine cables aren’t just technical marvels—they’re works of art.
TeleGeography’s newly-released map of the global submarine cable network evokes the feel of medieval and Renaissance cartography, blending technology with the history of exploration.
The map features 278 active submarine cables and 21 more under construction, offering a visual representation of how our interconnected world stays online.
This artistic approach is a tribute to the pioneering mapmakers of the Age of Discovery, who often adorned their maps with fanciful illustrations of sea monsters and mythical creatures.
These early explorers didn’t just map new lands; they also ventured into uncharted waters, laying the groundwork for future technologies.
As Chet Van Duzer’s “Sea Monsters in Medieval and Renaissance Maps” notes, these early maps blended both the real and imagined, showing both geographical realities and mythological fears of the sea.
This marriage of art and science is exactly what TeleGeography sought to revive with their new map. Inspired by the work of these ancient mapmakers, the company’s design evokes a nostalgic, historical feel, while still offering technical accuracy.
It’s as if you’re holding a piece of history in your hands—a modern map that’s been filtered through a 16th-century lens.
But don’t be fooled by the vintage design.
This map is deeply rooted in modern telecommunications and provides insights into how the world’s submarine cables function, including the speed of data transfer and the capacity of each cable.
Information flows across the globe in milliseconds, with cables capable of handling massive volumes of data, measured in terabytes.
The Lifeblood of the Internet: How Submarine Cables Connect the World
What exactly are these cables, and why are they so important?
To put it simply: without these underwater cables, the global Internet would not exist.
While satellites are useful for specific communication purposes, they simply can’t compete with the reliability, speed, and capacity offered by submarine cables.
In fact, submarine cables are responsible for carrying about 99% of all international data traffic.
That means everything from emails to Netflix streams and financial transactions rely on these cables working flawlessly.
According to Phil Edwards, writing for Vox, “The cables are so widely used because they’re reliable and fast: with high speeds and backup routes available, they rarely fail.
And that makes them an essential part of the global economy and how the world stays connected.”
The global submarine cable network links every continent except Antarctica, where research stations still rely on satellite connections.
From North America to Africa, from Asia to Europe, submarine cables create the infrastructure that supports the digital economy, social networks, and global communication.
These cables, often laid across seafloors, stretch from coast to coast, connecting major cities and hubs with data centers around the world.
It’s no exaggeration to say that these cables are the backbone of the digital world, allowing us to access information, communicate instantly, and run businesses at the speed of light.
But how exactly are these cables installed, and what challenges do they face?
The Laborious Process of Laying Underwater Cables
Imagine this: a special boat, called a cable-layer, is drifting across the ocean.
These boats aren’t just dropping cables into the water like you might imagine.
The cables are installed with precision, as engineers make sure they’re laid across flat stretches of the seabed, avoiding coral reefs, fish habitats, and even sunken ships.
The process is far more complex than one might think, as these cables must be buried deep enough to avoid natural obstacles, like currents or fishing trawlers.
In shallower waters (around 1,000 meters deep), these boats drag an underwater plough that creates a groove in the seabed.
Once the cable is laid, sand and debris naturally cover the wire, offering it some level of protection.
But it’s not all smooth sailing. In deeper waters, the cables have to be laid with extra care, and sometimes specialized robots or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are used.
Seismic activity, like underwater earthquakes, also poses a significant threat to these cables.
Underwater earthquakes can cause major damage to the cables, leading to disruptions in service that could affect millions of people.
Additionally, anchors from ships, fishing nets, and even sharks are potential hazards that can cut through these cables, severing connections and causing lengthy repairs.
In fact, in 2013, the cable network in Egypt was suspected to have been intentionally cut by saboteurs, adding an element of political intrigue to the already complex world of submarine cable maintenance.
The Growing Importance of Undersea Infrastructure
While we often take instant communication for granted, it’s easy to forget the massive infrastructure that keeps us connected.
Submarine cables are not only the backbone of global communication, but they also serve as the economic lifeblood of international trade, commerce, and entertainment.
Every time we send an email, stream a video, or make an online purchase, we rely on these cables to carry our data efficiently, reliably, and without delay.
The map created by TeleGeography showcases this infrastructure in all its glory, with vibrant illustrations highlighting the routes of active cables, the lit capacity of each, and the transmission speeds across oceans.
It offers a rare glimpse into a world that operates silently beneath the surface of the ocean, providing the backbone for the connected world we live in today.
But despite their crucial role, submarine cables are under constant threat—not just from natural disasters and mechanical failures, but from deliberate sabotage, as well.
The geopolitical importance of these cables means that their safety is critical to maintaining global security and communication.
As we become more dependent on the Internet, the preservation and protection of these cables will be essential for the stability of the global economy and the continuation of digital communication.
What Lies Ahead for Submarine Cables?
Looking ahead, the demand for faster, more reliable Internet connections will continue to drive the expansion of submarine cable networks.
TeleGeography’s map is already out of date in some places, as new cables are laid and technology evolves.
Some of the new cables currently under construction will offer even faster speeds and greater data capacity, ensuring that the ever-growing demand for data can be met.
The role of submarine cables is only going to grow.
With the rise of technologies like cloud computing, IoT (Internet of Things), and artificial intelligence, the demand for data transmission will increase exponentially.
This means that these cables will only become more essential to our global infrastructure.
As technology continues to evolve, underwater cables will continue to carry the weight of the world’s digital needs, keeping us connected, informed, and entertained.
Let’s just hope they continue to function at full capacity—because if they go down, the entire Internet could come crashing to a halt.
Sources:
- TeleGeography
- Vox
- Mental Floss
- Chet Van Duzer’s “Sea Monsters in Medieval and Renaissance Maps”
