Samanth Subramanian on the Undersea Cables That Keep the Internet Alive

Subsea fiber optic cables form the essential physical architecture of the modern internet, functioning as a global network of glass strands that transmit data via light pulses. While often compared to shipping lanes due to their concentration between major economic hubs, these cables face significant geopolitical risks, including potential sabotage and the concentration of ownership among a few major tech companies. The shift from historical consortium-led funding to direct investment by hyperscalers like Google and Meta has reshaped global connectivity, creating both redundancies and new dependencies. Despite the rise of satellite internet, the exponential growth in data demand driven by AI and cloud computing ensures that these undersea cables remain the primary backbone of global communications. The process of laying and repairing these cables remains a remarkably manual, old-school operation, highlighting the contrast between high-tech digital services and the fragile, physical infrastructure they require.