But really—when a cable is decommissioned, is there just a switch that someone flips off?
Turns out it's more complicated than that. Our top story pick for this month covers how the decommissioning process works and who is impacted.
We've also got articles about Skype in China, the laws that protect undersea cables, and the state of Africa's wireless market. We also threw in a fun history lesson about the time New York had a parade for a submarine cable. It's a true story. Enjoy all of these stories below.
What Happens After a Cable is Decommissioned?
Why it’s worth your time: There’s a cable sitting at the bottom of the Pacific connecting Montaña de Oro and China.
And AT&T wants it out of there.
This story about the removal of a now-obsolete cable is a good pick for anyone who has ever wondered what happens when a cable is decommissioned. It covers everything from the way residents might be impacted to the ways in which local fisheries will need to limit activity while the cable is removed. It also covers exactly how the cable will be extracted—or in the case of some segments, left on the seafloor.
Cutting the Cord: The Legal Regime Protecting Undersea Cables
Why it’s worth your time: On that note, we thought this piece about keeping cables safe from harm was worth a look.
Author Garrett Hinck outlines threats to undersea cables and current international laws that protect cables from damage. (Bonus points for not perpetuating the myth that sharks are taking out cables left and right.)
New York Once Threw a Giant Parade to Celebrate a 1,600-Mile Cable
Why it’s worth your time: Sure, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is pretty good. But don't forget that in 1858 New York hosted the “Cable Carnival."
This celebration honored a length of cable that connected North America to Europe for the first time. We're not kidding. Read this Atlas Obscura piece to learn more about the celebration (and the cable) in question.
Goodbye Skype. China’s Internet Censorship Juggernaut Rolls on Without its Former Cyber Tsar
Why it’s worth your time: China is removing internet phone services, including Skype. Consumers discovered this last month when the app was unceremoniously removed from all major app stores in China.
According to this piece from the South China Morning Post, "Apple said late on Tuesday that it had removed several internet phone call apps from the outlet in China after the country’s government said they violated local laws."
Africa’s Wireless Story
Why it’s worth your time: Africa’s wireless story is one of extremes, opportunity, and playing catch up with surrounding regions. From growth in subscribers to evolving penetration rates, we see individual countries jump to the front of the pack in these measurements, while the African wireless market as a whole strains to compete with its neighbors.
Pete Bell takes an in-depth look at the market in this profile.
