BPBlueprintAtlas · v1.0

Index / Cables / Submarine Cable

Cables

Submarine Cable

Transoceanic optical link

A handful of optical fibres at the centre, wrapped in copper for power, sealed in a hydrogen barrier, then armoured with steel wires for trawler and anchor strikes. Optical amplifiers (EDFAs) every ~70 km re-boost the signal across abyssal-plain depths up to 8 km.

Key specifications

Active cables

~550 worldwide

Capacity

400 Tb/s+ per cable

Repeater span

50 – 100 km

Carries

>99% intercontinental traffic

Sheet 004 · Plate 1 of 1 · 1:1 infographic

Submarine Cable
FIG. 004 — Submarine CableBlueprint Atlas · Cables

More from Cables

All sheets