The World of Submarine Cables: The Interactive Map That Reveals the Backbone of the Global Internet

Written by Bruno Teles

Published on 01/01/2025 at 18:33

O mapa interativo permite visualizar a densidade de cabos em regiões estratégicas, como o Atlântico Norte e o Canal de Suez. Ele também destaca como grandes empresas de tecnologia, como Google e Meta, estão investindo pesado para expandir essa infraestrutura essencial.

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Explore How Submarine Cables Connect Almost All Countries in the World, Forming a Network of More Than 1.3 Million Kilometers of Underwater Optical Fiber, Essential for 99% of Global Communications.

How does the internet connect entire continents in a matter of seconds? The answer lies beneath the surface: submarine cables. These giant wires form the backbone of global communication, supporting nearly 99% of data transmissions between countries. Now, with an interactive map, we can literally “navigate” through this fascinating infrastructure and understand how the modern world is interconnected.

The Essential Role of Submarine Cables

Submarine cables act like the planet’s digital arteries, transporting essential data for everything from video calls to movie streaming. They are so numerous that, combined, they could circle the Sun. The difference between them goes beyond length: some are as thin as a computer wire, while others have the diameter of a garden hose.

If today you can send a message to someone in Europe in seconds, thank submarine cables. Countries like the United States and Japan have dense networks, but even more isolated regions like French Polynesia are connected. However, this dependency also creates vulnerabilities: geopolitical threats and natural disasters can disrupt crucial connections.

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How It Works and What It Shows

In addition to showing the existing cables, the map projects new ones that will come into operation in the coming years, totaling more than 300 thousand additional kilometers. It also reveals curiosities, such as the complete isolation of North Korea and the limited connections of countries like Cuba.

This interactive map is a true “Google Maps” of submarine cables. It details where they are located, who the owners are, and when they were installed. It’s like seeing the invisible “skeleton” that supports our daily digital interactions.

Some areas on the map stand out as true underwater highways. The North Atlantic, for example, connects the northeastern United States to Europe with cables like Marea and Grace Hopper, while the Suez Canal is a crucial crossroads for communications between Europe and Asia.

The North Atlantic is one of the busiest routes. Cables like Marea, connecting Bilbao to Virginia, and Grace Hopper, which runs from the U.S. to England, show how major technology companies are heavily investing in this infrastructure.

In Asia, the density of cables is impressive. The SeaMeWe-5, with 20 thousand kilometers, connects from France to Singapore. Meanwhile, in the Pacific, the Pacific Crossing-1 interlinks Japan, Hawaii, and the U.S., forming one of the most extensive data bridges on the planet.

The 2Africa project, covering 45 thousand kilometers, is one of the largest ever built. It not only circles the entire African continent but also connects Europe and Asia. This infrastructure promises to revolutionize connectivity in still underexplored regions.

The image shows a complex network of submarine cables connecting various regions, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, and Red Sea area. This area is one of the main telecommunications corridors in the world, linking continents like Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Exponential Growth and Technology Needs

Between 2023 and 2025, more than 300 thousand kilometers of new cables will come into operation, resulting from a 10 billion dollar investment. With the advancement of artificial intelligence and streaming, the demand for this infrastructure is only increasing.

Although they are essential, submarine cables are subject to intentional cuts and political disputes. Regions like North Korea remain isolated, while countries like Cuba rely on a few cables to connect to the rest of the world.

Submarine cables are the veins that keep our digital world alive. The interactive map not only reveals this crucial infrastructure but also makes us reflect on the complexity and interdependence of the modern world. Next time you watch a video or send a message, remember: behind this simplicity, there are thousands of kilometers of cables working to connect you to the world.

The World of Submarine Cables: The Interactive Map That Reveals the Backbone of the Global Internet

Explore How Submarine Cables Connect Almost All Countries in the World, Forming a Network of More Than 1.3 Million Kilometers of Underwater Optical Fiber, Essential for 99% of Global Communications.

The Essential Role of Submarine Cables

How It Works and What It Shows

Exponential Growth and Technology Needs

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The World of Submarine Cables: The Interactive Map That Reveals the Backbone of the Global Internet

Explore How Submarine Cables Connect Almost All Countries in the World, Forming a Network of More Than 1.3 Million Kilometers of Underwater Optical Fiber, Essential for 99% of Global Communications.

The Essential Role of Submarine Cables

How It Works and What It Shows

Exponential Growth and Technology Needs

The Soviet Union spent 22 years drilling into the Earth’s crust and reached a depth of 12,262 meters — they found water where it was thought impossible, hydrogen bubbling from the rock, granite that is 2.7 billion years old, and temperatures of 180 degrees that melted the drill bits.

Egypt wants to draw 10 million cubic meters of water from the Nile per day into the desert, irrigate a new agricultural frontier, and build a city where there is currently only sand.

BRICS is preparing a payment system inspired by the Brazilian PIX that will allow direct transactions between countries using national digital currencies without relying on the dollar or Western banks as intermediaries.

Ethiopia has banned gasoline and diesel cars, placed over a hundred silent electric buses on the streets of Addis Ababa, and now aims for half a million electric vehicles by 2030, all powered by Africa’s largest dam and a courage that few countries have shown.

A view from space, an image made by NASA shows the impressive Richat Structure, a geological formation located in the Sahara Desert, also known as the “Eye of the Sahara.”

A brand that has been manufacturing motorcycles since 1901 launches its first electric model, and the price shocked the world: $3,000, weighing only 124 kg and accelerating from 0 to 60 km/h in 3.7 seconds…

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