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This is the fiber-optic cable that gets run under the sea--separated into different layers. The functional part of the cable is only 17 millimeters thick. This is coated in a flexible white plastic, which forms the outer layer.

The cable is dropped straight to the sea floor without any weights or additional protection. The only additional baggage is the optical signal amplifiers, of which 121 were used in the connection from Sydney to Hawaii, one every 75km (46.5 miles).

The inner most layer is the fiber-optic cable, which is surrounded by a steel sheath. This is, in turn, coated in a copper sheet, which carries 12 kilovolts of charge to power the optical amplifiers.

The final layer is the white plastic insulation that protects the cable. Telstra claims that the cables have a 25-year life span.

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  • Most Recent of 33 Talkback(s)
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 | | 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
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  K1FDH | 04/11/08
Here's the link to Int'l. submarine cables  K1FDH | 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  bigjohnt@... | 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  K1FDH | 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  K1FDH | 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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