How do undersea cables carry most of the world’s internet traffic?
Quick Answer
They send data as pulses of light through fiber-optic strands laid across the seafloor. Repeater stations boost the signal over long distances.
The Full Story
Most international internet traffic travels through submarine communications cables rather than satellites. Inside each cable are optical fibers that transmit data as light signals at very high speed. Because light weakens over distance, undersea repeaters or amplifiers are installed at intervals to strengthen the signal. Modern cables can span thousands of kilometers and connect continents, islands, and remote regions. The first transatlantic telegraph cable was completed in 1858, while today’s fiber-optic cables carry enormous amounts of digital traffic.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The hidden cables that keep the internet world connected."