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How Many Submarine Cables Are There, Anyway?

TeleGeography’s Submarine Cable Map recently hit a new milestone: depicting over 550 cable systems.

As of June 2023, that’s a whopping 485 in-service systems, with another 70 planned.

The number of cable systems we study is constantly increasing. This is due to massive investment in this infrastructure—both along major routes and to small islands—as well as our ongoing efforts to track global systems in more detail.

Still, the number of in-service systems is greater now than in any other year within the last two decades.

Lessons Learned From Season 4: Telecom History, Investing, & More

Over the past few weeks, we've been revisiting the latest episodes of TeleGeography Explains the Internet with a Season 4 recap.

To conclude the series, here are six clips from the podcast—each under three minutes—that we think will teach you something interesting. First up: how accurate is Epcot's history of communications?

Why Are Submarine Cables Being Rerouted?

What has the TeleGeography team been reading lately?

First up on our list: a Foreign Policy piece explaining why new submarine cables are not connecting the U.S. and China.

We also pulled some stories that have been making the rounds in our Slack channels, from a very special birthday to a unique liquidation sale.

Lessons Learned From Season 4: Submarine Cables & AI

Although TeleGeography Explains the Internet explores all areas of the global business of connectivity, there are some hot topics that demand extra attention.

Submarine cables and artificial intelligence are two examples. Both are heavily covered in the press and on everyone's minds right now—including our podcast guests.

Here are some highlights pulled from Season 4. Listen as experts weigh in on utilizing subsea cables as seismic monitoring networks, using AI in network monitoring, and more.

Is This the Greatest Shortcoming of the Human Race?

At SubOptic 2023, my colleague Tim Stronge and I brought back the Telecom Mythbusters to test a new series of myths.

I already covered my first two myths from our presentation: the cable lifespan myth and the 99% myth.

My third and final myth—the exponential growth myth—is based upon a quote that I found.

“The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.” –Albert Allen Bartlett

Lessons Learned From Season 4: Podcast Recap, Part 2

In honor of the upcoming fifth season of TeleGeography Explains the Internet, we’re running you through the highlights of all 25 episodes from Season 4, five at a time.

Revisit part one to watch clips on energy conservation in the fiber optic space, the resurgence of satellite, the changing nature of technology, and more.

Do Submarine Cables Account For Over 99% of Intercontinental Data Traffic?

“Submarine cables account for over 99% of intercontinental data traffic” is regularly quoted in the press with no source given.

It’s time for some fact-checking.

Lessons Learned From Season 4: Podcast Recap, Part 1

We just wrapped up the fourth season of our podcast, TeleGeography Explains the Internet.

After three seasons focused primarily on the WAN, Senior Manager/Podcast Host Greg Bryan spent the last few months more broadly exploring the global business of connectivity with a wide range of guests.

A lot of ground was covered. In fact, if you were to binge the whole season at once, it would take around 20 hours to listen through all 25 episodes.

While that would be very impressive, we've made a highlight reel with bite-sized clips to help you catch up. Stay tuned as we work our way through the season, five episodes at a time.

New Map Explores Sustainability Across the Subsea Industry

This month’s list of telecom reading recs starts off with a new map that you may have seen circulating on social media.

Is the Lifespan of a Submarine Cable Really 25 Years?

“The lifespan of a submarine cable is 25 years.” We’ve all heard that, right?

Is this statement really a fact—or is it fiction? Let’s find out.

 

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