By 2030, the submarine cable system market will be worth USD 3.50 billion globally, according to a recent report conducted by The Insight Partners.
Submarine cables have fundamentally revolutionized global connectivity, linking continents together and enhancing the quality of life of millions of people across the world.
These cables, often unseen, have propelled industries to new heights as they gather and exchange vast amounts of data, ultimately leading to innovations that transform societies.
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and intelligent, the hidden drivers of global communication must adapt to the ever-evolving nature of technology.
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The Foundation of Global Connectivity
Submarine data cables lay the groundwork for connecting countries and continents with unparalleled reliability, low latency, and high bandwidth. These facilitate the delivery of large volumes of data, including voice, video, and internet traffic.
Through the integration of hybrid power with submarine data cables, underwater infrastructure will be enhanced, revolutionizing the high-speed connectivity of various industries and communities.
Submarine Hybrid Power-Telecom Cables (SHPTCs) merge the transmissions of electrical power and telecommunications data, establishing a highly efficient system capable of providing a variety of advantages aimed at developing various sectors.
The hybrid power-telecom cables adapt to the increasing data demands by utilizing the transformative power of advanced fiber optic technology underwater, transmitting vast amounts of data at rapid speeds across continents.
High-speed data transmission is facilitated through fiber optic technology, particularly for critical applications. Their scalability is also enhanced, making them suitable for the constant demands of data capacity.
These underwater innovations enable efficient power transmission over long distances, reducing the need for local power generation. Additionally, SHPTCs facilitate the proficient distribution of renewable energy resources.
This approach will ultimately reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, safeguarding the marine environment from the detrimental effects of traditional power infrastructures.
SHPTCs are designed to withstand even the harshest weather conditions underwater, resisting extreme temperatures and high pressures. These cutting-edge innovations can also be used as emergency power supply lines and communication links during natural calamities to ensure uninterrupted services.
Moreover, SHTPCs are cost-effective, making them reliable alternatives to satellite communications.
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Navigating the Risks in Submarine Data Cables
The crucial roles that submarine data cables play cannot be overlooked; and even though these data cables are submerged under water, vulnerabilities still remain.
From natural phenomena and accidents to geopolitical issues, submarine data cables face risks that can potentially disrupt connectivity.
Earlier this year, a rebel group reportedly damaged the Red Sea submarine data cables, disrupting internet access in some parts of the world. The cut Red Sea cables included Seacom, TGN-Gulf, Asia-Africa-Europe 1, and Europe India Gateway.
In 2022, Tonga’s sole submarine cable was cut due to the eruption of the Huga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano, which left the entire country without internet access or mobile data.
Meanwhile, an elderly Georgian woman accidentally damaged fiber optic cables while scavenging for copper, disrupting internet access in Armenia for up to five hours in 2011. These cables link connectivity between Eastern Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, and were owned by the Georgian Railway Telecom Company.
Telecom Egypt’s undersea internet cable was cut in 2013 by three scuba divers in Alexandria, slowing down Egypt’s connectivity speed and other neighboring nations.
In 2008, the UAE, among other countries, experienced an internet outage due to cut undersea cables—FLAG Telecom’s Europe Asia cable and the SEA-ME-WE 4.
The Pingtung earthquake in Taiwan created underwater avalanches that cut seafloor cables connecting Southeast Asia to the rest of the world in 2006, leading to a massive internet outage in the country.
Furthermore, faulty submarine cables may also deliver slow internet connection. Recently, Pakistan has been experiencing a considerable decline in connectivity speed, affecting various enterprises, with the country’s telecommunication authority attributing faulty submarine cables as the cause.
Immense internet disruptions may be experienced across various countries and industries, however, it is paramount to navigate the potential impacts of these underwater advancements on the marine environment.
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Underwater Data Cable Projects Driving Global Connectivity
Given the advent of 5G network technology, the demand for higher bandwidth and capacity has so too emerged.
According to a recent study, the demand for submarine cable systems has dramatically increased due to the growing adoption of cloud-based services.
Telecommunications and data infrastructure firm, Prima, and Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), a leader in the submarine cable industry and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nokia, will deploy the Science Monitoring and Reliable Telecommunications (SMART), a groundbreaking cable project. This underwater innovation, poised to be operational in 2026, will connect Vanuatu and New Caledonia, extending to Australia and Fiji.
Recently, PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin) and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) announced their partnership in developing the Indonesia Cable Express (ICE) System 2 to advance the country’s telecommunication network.
Earlier this year, NEC and NTT launched a first-of-its-kind long-distance transmission experiment over 7,000 kilometers using 12-core optical fiber to increase the capacity of transoceanic optical submarine cables. NEC’s installation of a long-haul optical submarine cable system using two-core multicore fiber with two optical transmission paths is also underway in preparation for the era beyond 5G and 6G in the 2030s.
Spanning over 15,000 kilometers, the Bifrost Cable System linking Singapore to North America is also slated for completion this year, and aims to deliver network diversity and digital connectivity between the two regions. This project, pioneered by Keppel Telecommunications & Transportation, Facebook, and Telekomunikasi Indonesia International, will provide high-speed data transmission across the Pacific Ocean, catering to the demands of Southeast Asian countries.
By March next year, underwater data cable projects, India-Asia-Express (IAX) by Reliance Jio and Infocomm, and the India-Europe-Express (IEX) by China Mobile, Reliance Jio, and Infocomm, are expected to launch, drastically improving India’s digital connectivity.
Meanwhile, Singapore aims to double its capacity in international subsea cable landings over the next decade to enhance the country’s connection and pave the way for the widespread use of new applications.
In addition, the SEA-ME-WE (Southeast Asia – Middle East – Western Europe) 6 submarine cable is anticipated to be operational by 2025, providing faster data transmission and extended capacity across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe.
In 2020, China Mobile International, Meta, Bayobab (formerly MTN GlobalConnect), Orange, stc, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone, and the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), collaborated to establish 2Africa Pearls, the largest subsea fiber optic cable system spanning 45,000 kilometers long with a design capacity of up to 180 Tbps.
Expected to go live this year, 2Africa Pearls enables a seamless connection between Africa and Europe, extending to Asia through the SEA-ME-WE 5 and AAE-1 subsea cable resources.
In the Middle East, Qatar’s telecommunications and infrastructure company, Ooredoo Group, and UAE telecom company, e&, deployed the Gulf Gateway Cable 1 (GGC1) earlier this year, enhancing the network’s capacity by up to 28 Tbps, and optimizing cost and power efficiency per bit.
Although no timeline has been revealed yet, Omani telecom service provider, Omantel, and du, commercially rebranded from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), have already initiated a plan to construct the Oman Emirates Gateway (OEG), a 275-kilometer international fiber optic submarine cable connecting Oman and the UAE.
Telecom Egypt and 4iG also announced their plans to build a subsea cable linking Egypt and Albania last year. Additionally, Telecom Egypt enabled the launch of the 2024 submarine cable map which depicts 559 cable systems and 1,636 landings.
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Final Thoughts
While submarine data cables appear invisible to us, their significance is pivotal for maintaining connectivity around the world. The reliance on these hidden innovations will continue to grow as the demand for higher data capacity increases.
Adopting the latest generation of networks will accelerate the future enhancements and developments of the underwater drivers of global connectivity.
From people to communities; businesses to governments; countries to continents; submarine cables are the lifeline that connects everything around us. These underwater technologies connect the present to the future, accelerating the advent of a hyper-connected world that transcends beyond the seafloor.
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