"The fact you can post a picture on Facebook or video on YouTube and people can see it anywhere in the world is mind-boggling, but it takes a lot

Tech giants fight 'cloud wars' deep in the ocean

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2021-05-25 11:00:05

"The fact you can post a picture on Facebook or video on YouTube and people can see it anywhere in the world is mind-boggling, but it takes a lot of things behind the scenes and below the ocean to make it happen," says Alan Mauldin, research director at TeleGeography.

It is easy to overlook that our access to the internet relies on thousands of miles of cable, crossing the world's oceans. They provide the plumbing for the internet - 98% of all international internet traffic travels through them.

Some connect neighbouring countries, such as the 131km (80 mile) CeltixConnect cable between Ireland and the UK. Others like the Asian-America Gateway cable, stretch for 20,000km and link continents.

The data flashes along optical fibres as thin as a strand of hair. Each cable will have several of these at its core and then further layers of protective coating to prevent damage.

According to Daniel Sousa, managing director of manufacturing operations at SubCom, one challenge is that "the entire cable systems need to be manufactured and tested as a complete system".