A map of all the underwater cables that connect the internet

Vox ^ | March 13, 2015

[NYer]

Cables lying on the seafloor bring the internet to the world. They transmit 99 percent of international data, make transoceanic communication possible in an instant, and serve as a loose proxy for the international trade that connects advanced economies.

Their importance and proliferation inspired Telegeography to make this vintage-inspired map of the cables that connect the internet. It depicts the 299 cables that are active, under construction, or will be funded by the end of this year.

In addition to seeing the cables, you'll find information about "latency" at the bottom of the map (how long it takes for information to transmit) and "lit capacity" in the corners (which shows how much traffic a system can send, usually measured in terabytes). You can browse a full zoomable version here.

The cables are so widely used, as opposed to satellite transmission, because they're so reliable and fast: with high speeds and backup routes available, they rarely fail. And that means they've become a key part of the global economy and the way the world connects.

Take, for example, the below map, which lets you slide between a 1912 map of trade routes and Telegeography's map of submarine cables today. The economic interdependence has remained, but the methods and meaning have changed:

The submarine cable map shows economic connections in less-developed countries as well. Cables between South America and Africa, for example, are much more scarce than trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes:

Connections in the South Atlantic are scarce. (Telegeography)

Though cables to developing countries are expanding, they have a lot of work to do before they catch up. And Antarctica is left out completely (scientists down there get their internet from satellites).

The analogy between submarine cables and historic trade routes has a lot of caveats: trade routes were determined by geography as well as economic interests, and economic incentives were a lot different then than they are today. It would also be a mistake to overlook physical goods in favor of the internet (just look at those giant container ships). But both then and now, paths across the ocean require investment, trading partners on both sides, and a willingness to take risks. Sailors took the gamble in the past, and tech companies are taking it now.

Submarine cables get big investments from companies looking to explore their own modern trade routes

Submarine cables in Asia. (TeleGeography)

These cables carry information for the entire internet, including both corporate and consumer interests. That's why Google invested $300 million in a trans-Pacific cable system consortium to move data, Facebook put money into an Asian cable system consortium, and the finance industry invests just as much to shave a few milliseconds off trade times.

Other consortia regularly lay cables to transmit the consumer internet. Each group's control of a submarine cable is an advantage in the information exchange between countries.

Submarine cables are a 150-year-old idea with new potency

The process for laying submarine cables hasn't changed much in 150 years — a ship traverses the ocean, slowly unspooling cable that sinks to the ocean floor. The SS Great Eastern laid the first continually successful trans-Atlantic cable in 1866, which was used to transmit telegraphs. Later cables (starting in 1956) carried telephone signals.

A map of the submarine telegraph in 1858, though the attempt only worked for three weeks. (Wikimedia Commons)

Modern cables are surprisingly thin, considering how long they are and how deep they sink. Each is usually about 3 inches across. They're actually thicker in more shallow areas, where they're often buried to protect against contact with fishing boats, marine beds, or other objects. At the deepest point in the Japan Trench, cables are submerged under water 8,000 meters deep — which means submarine cables can go as deep as Mount Everest is high.

The optical fibers that actually carry the information are bundled within the larger shell of the cable:

A diagram of a submarine cable. (Wikimedia Commons)

The components include:

1. Polyethylene
2. Mylar tape
3. Stranded metal (steel) wires
4. Aluminum water barrier
5. Polycarbonate
6. Copper or aluminum tube
7. Petroleum jelly (this helps protect the cables from the water)
8. Optical fibers

These cables move the videos, trades, gifs, and articles that bring the internet around the world in a matter of milliseconds. And that's the type of advantage any trader — digital or analog — could appreciate.

WATCH: 'Meet the enormous boats that carry your stuff'

[Squawk 8888]

The other problem with satellites is latency (the time it takes the signal to move from point A to point B). Telecom satellites orbit 26,000 miles above the equator, so the minimum time for the round trip will be ~0.3 seconds but much longer at higher latitudes. Using cables it’s usually less than 0.025 seconds.

[Carriage Hill]

Do both signals move at the theoretical speed of light, or are they limited by air/cable friction factors?

[CrazyIvan]

Ivy Bells- the sequel.

[Squawk 8888]

Close enough to the speed of light as to make no difference. The chief limiting factor is the number of gateways. Each router on a network acts as a repeater, so it takes a bit of time to process the signal and re-transmit. The more “hops” in a connection, the slower the transmission. You can see the effect by using the tracert command in Windows.

[Semper911]

.

[Dick Bachert]

Now that right there is FUNNY!

[Political Junkie Too]

The question in the United States is whether these cables are government laid or private company laid.

If these are private and owned by corporations, then Obama's declaration that the "internet" is a utility to be federally regulated amounts to a 5th amendment taking. He's either taking the servers, storage, and cables outright and nationalizing them, or he needs to pay fair price for the property takings.

If he is 5th amendment taking for "public use," he should be sued in court to explain that use. I bet in that case, the Kelo case would come back to haunt us, as that ruling transformed "public use" into "public good." Public use meant direct use, as in a highway, school, or civic building. Public good meant indirect use, as in the tax benefits of other owners using the property in allegedly more profitable ways.

Obama will claim public good of a nationalized internet, but won't pay a dime for taking control of private assets.

-PJ

[Darth Reardon]

No. Fibre runs around 2/3c. The light doesn’t travel straight along the fibre, it bounces back and forth within the fibre cable.

[Faith65]

Thanks! Great information.

[Carriage Hill]

Just tried it; interesting data.

[Seattle Conservative]

Bkmrk

[freds6girlies]

bookmark

[OldMissileer]

I think you have the same one I have...except mine runs through North Dakota, since every time it thunders there, I lose signal in Alabama.

We have the same provider. Mine is Verizon DSL and this morning speed tests from four different test sites had me at .37Mbps. I pay for 1Mbps.

I live 41 miles from the White Hut and yet the only other provider in my area is Comcast and they are using the same equipment as when it was owned by Adelphia about 11 years ago. My neighbors who went to Comcast from Verizon say they made a mistake as their Internet speed is no better than the bad Verizon DSL and costs more.

I should just go back to dial up.

[Squawk 8888]

Gives me a new appreciation for the services available here, where 3mbps is considered slow and is dirt cheap. My connection is rated 30mb down/5mb up and consistently tests >90% of rated speed. I’m paying $45/month, while 10mbps can be had for ~$30.

[varon]

All carrying pictures and videos of cats.

Porn cats, if ya know what I mean........

[nascarnation]

Fascinating stuff, love to learn things on FR, good post!

[nascarnation]

the only other provider in my area is Comcast

Their reputation is so toxic that here in the midwest they are using the alias "Xfinity" now.

[OldMissileer]

I checked Comcast and they want $84.99/month for 25Mbps, which our neighbors tell us is a total fraud. Verizon DSL told me they have no intention of upgrading my area so we will not get any higher DSL speeds. I asked about FIOS as they just put in all the equipment and fiber two homes from mine at the intersection of our cul de sac and the Verizon FIOS people said that even though the equipment is there they will not let the ten homes on our street have FIOS.

We are literally stuck with two companies that will not service us at all and yet we live in the Washington DC area.

[NYer]

The question in the United States is whether these cables are government laid or private company laid.

AFAIK, these cables have been laid by private communication companies. Learn More.

[nascarnation]

Start contributing to the local Democrat party. I suspect you’d see that problem fixed pretty quick.