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
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