Invisible Highways: How Undersea Cables Connect Our Digital World
In an age of wireless communication and cloud technologies, few people realize that the backbone of our global internet infrastructure lies deep beneath the ocean's surface. Award-winning author Colum McCann has recently shed light on the surprisingly dramatic world of undersea communication cables, transforming what might seem like mundane infrastructure into a compelling narrative of human connection.
These slender fiber-optic cables, often no thicker than a garden hose, carry approximately 99% of international digital communications. Stretching across ocean floors for thousands of miles, they connect continents, enable real-time global communication, and support everything from financial transactions to social media interactions.
McCann's perspective highlights several fascinating aspects of these underwater networks:
- Cables are vulnerable to natural disasters, shark bites, and deliberate sabotage
- Each cable represents massive technological and logistical challenges
- The infrastructure reflects complex geopolitical relationships
Despite their critical importance, these cables remain largely invisible to the public. They are meticulously engineered, laid by specialized ships, and represent billions of dollars in investment. A single cable can transmit multiple terabits of data per second, making them far more efficient than satellite communications.
By drawing attention to these underwater lifelines, McCann invites us to appreciate the intricate, often unseen systems that connect our modern world. His narrative transforms technical infrastructure into a metaphor for human interconnectedness, reminding us that our digital experiences are fundamentally grounded in physical, global networks.
