Photos: Australia's 5,500-mile Internet connection

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Installing an Internet connection can be difficult--especially if the cable is about 9,000 kilometers (5,580 miles) long and very deep underwater.

The Ile de Sein is a massive ship that sports a crew of 60, who work in shifts to lay cable 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The cable that runs between Australian and Hawaii isn't straight; it needs to run around undersea mountains and past crevasses, as well as follow the rugged terrain of the sea floor.

Many months of planning were involved in plotting the best undersea route for the cable. A member of the project commented that the undersea cables can reach depths of 5,000 meters (3 miles) or more.

Telstra expects the cable to be active by the fourth quarter this year. Bandwidth on the cable will be available to both Telstra retail and wholesale customers.

Text written by Alex Serpo of ZDNet Australia

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WIRED covered this many years ago:: If you want to read more about how these cables are laid, and the people who lay them, read this excellent article by post-cyberpunk auth... (Read the rest); Posted by: gbdrbob Posted on: 07/15/08 (Edited: 07/16/08 @ 01:51) You are currently: a Guest | Log in | Terms of Use

Physical Compression Dr_Zinj | 04/09/08

Treated? jhurst747 | 04/09/08

That's the expensive way... JohnMcGrew@... | 04/09/08

RE: (Photos: Australia's 5,500-mile Internet connection) chris752 | 04/09/08

RE: (Photos: Australia's 5,500-mile Internet connection) vulcan96 | 04/09/08

They are called "Notice to Mariners" Michael P. | 04/09/08

What does Australia use now? Satellite? meryllogue@... | 04/09/08

They use other existing cables... UncleBubba | 04/09/08

RE: (Photos: Australia's 5,500-mile Internet connection) maxtheitpro | 04/09/08

RE: (Photos: Australia's 5,500-mile Internet connection) stewpeake | 04/09/08

Australia and . . . . Hawaii?? CobraA1 | 04/09/08

AZ to Hawaii just part of global network rudy_z | 04/11/08

Here's the link to Int'l. submarine cables rudy_z | 04/11/08

RE: (Photos: Australia's 5,500-mile Internet connection) paul351 | 04/09/08

another reason seanferd | 04/09/08

RE: (Photos: Australia's 5,500-mile Internet connection) blackjack861@... | 04/09/08

Pure science vs. entertainment etc. boomchuck1 | 04/10/08

Toil and Sacrifice Methushelah | 04/10/08

What microscope are we supposed to use mhenriday | 04/11/08

Relevance Methushelah | 04/24/08

Idiot bigjohnl@... | 04/12/08

RE: (Photos: Australia's 5,500-mile Internet connection) leanne_martinau | 04/10/08

Powering the amplifiers? bbbaldie_z | 04/10/08

Probably still electric? Kev Baylis | 04/10/08

RTFM Kev Baylis | 04/10/08

High voltage DC still used rudy_z | 04/11/08

Has anyone seen any video posted? clare_smith@... | 04/10/08

Latency brittonv | 04/10/08

Modern Fiber cables use solid state amps rudy_z | 04/11/08

RE: (Photos: Australia's 5,500-mile Internet connection) Kapukini | 04/14/08

RE: (Photos: Australia's 5,500-mile Internet connection) NZJester | 04/16/08

WIRED covered this many years ago: gbdrbob | 07/15/08

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