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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- 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
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