The world depends on a handful of submarine cables. There are enough of these cables to wrap around the Sun. They’re critical because most countries and their communications rely on them. Some nations even threaten to cut them to intimidate their neighbors.
This interactive map shows all the undersea cables, along with connection points, construction dates, and ownership details.
The panoramic view: a Christmas tree. The map is a marvel, illustrating how submarine cables connect people. These cables vary in thickness, from computer connection cords to those as thick as a garden hose or a human arm.
About 99% of global communication depends on these cables, including the Internet and data-heavy activities like streaming and AI applications.
The Transatlantic bridge. The map highlights several cable highways. One is the North Atlantic, connecting the northeastern U.S. to Europe. France, Ireland, England, Spain, and Portugal serve as major ports.
Virginia Beach, for example, connects to Bilbao, Spain, via Marea, a 4,104-mile cable owned by Meta, Telxius, and Microsoft. Another, Grace Hopper, spans 4,468 miles from Bellport to Bilbao and is owned by Google.
Cables in development include the Anjana, a 4,424-mile cable owned by Meta that will link Myrtle Beach to Santander, Spain.
The Caribbean node. The Caribbean network is also significant, with many cables linking Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. These cables extend to Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.
One of the world’s longest cables, Humboldt, will connect Chile to French Polynesia. Its length remains unknown, but Google will own it. Another major cable, Curie, became operational in 2020. Spanning 6,509 miles, it connects Valparaiso, Chile; Balboa, Panama; and El Segundo, California.
The Asian network. Asia is dense with cables. One of the most significant is SeaMeWe-5, a 12,427-mile cable with multiple owners, including Chinese and Middle Eastern operators. It connects countries from France to Singapore, but no U.S. giants are involved.
Many cables connect India, China, the East China Sea, and Japan, bridging the U.S. and Latin America. Many pass through Hawaii. The Pacific Crossing-1, a 13,048-mile cable launched in 1999, is one of the longest.
North Korea and Cuba. The map highlights North Korea’s isolation. While South Korea, northeastern China, and eastern Russia have ports in the Sea of Japan, North Korea has no fiber connections to other countries.
Cuba’s cables are limited and largely supported by allies. For example, the Arimao links with Martinique, and Alba-1 connects with Venezuela. The only cable linking Cuba and the U.S. is the GTMO-1, owned by the U.S. government, with a port at Guantanamo Bay.
Australia. Australia, a continent dependent on this infrastructure, relies on 15 cables for over 95% of its communications.
The Southern Cross Cable Network is notable. Inaugurated in 2000, it spans 18,951 miles, linking Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the U.S.
Suez Canal. Many communications with Asia pass through the Suez Canal, as seen in the concentration of cables in the area. Marseilles serves as a junction for many cables, with more planned for completion by 2026 and 2027.
2Africa. The 2Africa cable stands out among impressive projects. Spanning 27,961 miles, it crosses the African continent, reaching Barcelona in the west and India in the east. Inaugurated this year, it has various owners, including China Mobile, Orange, Saudi Telecom, and Vodafone.
Screening. These examples represent only a fraction of the hundreds of cables on the ocean floor. Experts forecast a boom in the next few years, with 78 new systems covering 186,411 miles expected online by 2025.
This surge, fueled by a $10 billion investment, is driven by growing demands for artificial intelligence, search systems, video streaming, and social media platforms.
Images | Submarine Cable Map
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