Did you know that the internet doesn’t travel through the air, but through CABLES at the bottom of the ocean?
When we think of the internet, many imagine *Wi-Fi signals or satellites in space. But the truth is that *over 95% of global internet traffic relies on a vast network of submarine cables that connect entire continents, enabling high-speed data transmission worldwide.
How Submarine Cables Work
These cables are *engineering marvels. Made of *fiber optics and protected by multiple layers of insulation, they are installed on the ocean floor by specialized ships. Data transmission happens through *light pulses, traveling *thousands of kilometers at speeds close to that of light.
Currently, there are *more than 400 active submarine cables, covering a total of **1.3 million kilometers. They connect major urban centers and ensure *global connectivity for businesses, governments, and everyday users.
What Happens When a Submarine Cable Is Damaged?
Despite being highly resistant, these cables can suffer damage from earthquakes, ship anchors, and even shark attacks! When a cable breaks, internet traffic is automatically rerouted through other paths, but this can cause slowdowns or even outages in certain regions. Companies responsible for monitoring send repair ships, and fixing a damaged cable can take days or even weeks.
Fun Fact: Submarine Cables Are Essential for the Global Economy
Beyond enabling international communication, submarine cables are *crucial for financial services, cloud computing, and even national security. Without this invisible infrastructure, *the internet as we know it simply wouldn’t exist.
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