Tag: Cables

Current Undersea Cable System Internet Many scientists have put forth the concept of internet even before its discovery; such as by Nikola Tesla: world wireless system and JCR Licklider (MIT professor): Intergalactic Network. However, the first working prototype of internet was demonstrated by ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), via a project funded by the US Department of Defence, in 1960s; wherein, the communication was established between two computers of which one was placed in UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) and another at Stanford. Thereafter, the technology has grown tremendously and has become an indispensable part of our lives today. Table below provides the dates when internet started in some of the countries: Sr. No.Country NameInternet Start Year1India19862Canada19833Germany19844Pakistan19925UK19736China19897New Zealand19788Australia19869France198610Italy1986 How are countries connected? I was really interested to understand how we are connected through internet even when we are countries apart! Although we are using wireless internet network, we do need some extremely lengthy undersea cables connecting countries. Can you imagine China and USA being connected by undersea cables! Some Figures: Total number of undersea cables: 436 as of early 2021Total length of the undersea cables: As of 2021 1.3 billion kmFirst undersea cable: Transatlantic No. 1 laid in 1956They can be as deep as 25,000 ft below the ocean’s surfaceLongest undersea cable: Fibre-optic Link around the Globe (FLAG) - 28,000 kilometre long connecting the United Kingdom, Japan, India, and many places in between. The cable has 39 landing points.Market: 17.3 billion USD in 2019 and expected to reach ~35 billion USD in 2027, CAGR of 9%Largest market share: Asia Pacific (~36%)Smallest market share: Middle East and Africa (~5%)Major players: Alcatel Submarine Networks, SubCom, LLC, ABB, Huawei Marine Networks Co., Ltd., NEC Corporation, NEXANS NORWAY AS, FUJITSU, Prysmian Group, Saudi Ericsson, HENGTONG GROUP CO., LTD., ZTT, Corning Incorporated, NKT A/S, Hellenic Cables GroupThese are faster and cheaper than the satellitesLifespan: About 25 years Below YouTube video provides an overview of how all countries are inter-connected by the undersea internet cables (As the video is from 2017, the numeric details would have updated and should be taken only for reference) https://www.youtube.com/watch?vDKHZKTRyzeg Overview of how all countries are inter-connected by the undersea internet cables These cables are fiber optic based cables connecting countries with cables laid on the floor of the ocean, and transmit huge amounts of data every minute. Laying of the cables is performed using specially-made ships. Video below provides details on how these cables are laid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?vWOXMTXKkyao How undersea cables are laid? What are cables made up of? There are many types of cables used in the undersea application. Photos of some of which are shown below: Types of cables used in the undersea application Schematic of the general type of the undersea cable General details of the cable: Diameter: ~25 mmWeigh: ~1.4 tonnes per kilometre The optical fibers are coated with petroleum jelly and put inside a copper tubing (carrying electricity); which is surrounded by a plastic tube. This assembly is further covered by an aluminium barrier and stranded steel wires, and is additionally protected Mylar tape. This all is finally covered with a polyethylene plastic coating sealing the above mentioned materials. One can observe that three types of plastic materials are used in making an undersea cable: PolycarbonateVery good temperature resistance: -40 to 120oCExcellent chemical resistanceUV-resistantLight weightVirtually unbreakable and vandal-proofHas B1 rating of fire resistance. It’s a self-extinguishing polymerMylar tapeMainly used as an insulation materialVery good temperature resistance: -70 to 150 CMylar is a brand from DuPontIt’s made of polyester film tape having one side coated with acrylic adhesiveBest in class resistance to: HydrolysisUV protectionSalt waterVery good barrier propertiesLargely used as cable insulation materialPolyethyleneHydrophobic polyethylene provides best in class water resistance to the cableThis high dielectric (can be upto 500 kV) polymer has ability to take high ocean bottom water pressuresCan be a medium density polyethylene or cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). However, largely its XLPE Thus, we can see that polymer materials are required for safeguarding the optical fibers and other metal structures inside the cable; without the presence of which the life of the materials under the sea condition would be very low. So we can truly say: No Plastic No Internet! Video below provides information on how the undersea cables are made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?vM7stcJ65_X4 How undersea cables are made? Some challenges with the undersea cables: Sharks and undersea creatures try to bite &/eat these cablesVulnerability to natural disastersSpying on information by other countries Difficulty in repairing Dear Readers, do go through the above content on ‘No Plastic No Internet’ and let me know your viewpoints in the Comments section. Thanks for Reading! I put up a new post whenever I come across an interesting topic, so follow my blog and stay updated about the developments in the polymer industry. References: https://www.history.com/news/who-invented-the-internethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Canadahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Pakistan#:~:textThe%20also%20first%20dialup%20internet,1%20Old%20Queen%20Road%2C%20Karachi.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_the_United_Kingdomhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_China#:~:textChina%20has%20been%20on%20the,of%202018%2C%20had%20remained%20so.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_New_Zealand#:~:textDue%20to%20the%20efforts%20of,February%201993%20and%20February%201994.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Nepal#:~:textFrom%20October%202006%20through%20January,possible%20Internet%20filtering%20(censorship).https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Australiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_France#:~:textThe%20general%20public%20began%20to,at%20the%20Computer%20Associates%20Expo.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Italyhttps://www.thelocal.it/20160429/italys-internet-hits-30-and-shows-signs-of-slowing-down/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/25/asia/internet-undersea-cables-intl-hnk/index.htmlhttps://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/analysis/what-is-a-submarine-cable-subsea-fiber-explained/https://www2.telegeography.com/submarine-cable-faqs-frequently-asked-questionshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibre-optic_Link_Around_the_Globehttps://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/submarine-cables-market-4300https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/60150/10-facts-about-internets-undersea-cableshttps://www.onesteppower.com/post/how-do-undersea-data-cables-workhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_communications_cablehttps://plasticsheetsshop.co.uk/polycarbonate-advantages-and-disadvantages/https://www.polycase.com/techtalk/plastic-electronic-enclosures/polycarbonate-enclosures-features-benefits-and-common-applications.htmlhttps://ugplast-inc.com/benefits-of-polycarbonate/https://www.tekra.com/resources/tekra-fundamentals/what-mylar-film-is-used-forhttp://elecomglobal.com/products/almylar-tape/https://www.awcwire.com/customersupport/techinfo/tape-insulationhttps://www.iewc.com/resources/technical-guide/tape-typeshttp://usa.dupontteijinfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mylar_Physical_Properties.pdfhttps://www.dni.gov/files/PE/Documents/1---2017-AEP-Threats-to-Undersea-Cable-Communications.pdfhttps://atlantic-cable.com/Cables/2008TPE/TycoLW.htmhttps://www.computerworld.com/article/2947841/9-things-you-didnt-know-about-googles-undersea-cable.html

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