{"id":3684,"date":"2025-04-28T06:49:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T09:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edgefy.com\/?p=3684"},"modified":"2026-04-29T17:30:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T20:30:04","slug":"cabos-submarinos-a-espinha-dorsal-da-conectividade-global","status":"publish","type":"insights","link":"https:\/\/edgefy.com\/english\/insights\/cabos-submarinos-a-espinha-dorsal-da-conectividade-global\/","title":{"rendered":"Submarine Cables: The Backbone of Global Connectivity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Submarine Cables: The Backbone of Global Connectivity<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Far beyond satellites: understand how submarine cables sustain global connectivity with speed and stability.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Although satellites get much more attention, they are not the primary drivers of global connectivity<\/b>. Fiber-optic submarine cables are responsible for over 95% of worldwide communication<\/b>, carrying nearly all data traffic between continents with speed and efficiency<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Submarine Cables and Why We Depend on Them<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Submarine cables are connections that run across the ocean floor<\/b> between network stations used to transmit communication signals. Because of their massive presence, the internet simply isn\u2019t possible without them<\/b>. Today, thousands of kilometers of cable cross oceans and multiple land-based network hubs, connecting regions and even entire continents.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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These cables are built with a strong, highly protected structure<\/b>. They\u2019re optical fibers coated with silicone gel and multiple layers of plastic, and they also contain steel wiring, copper, and nylon<\/b> to shield both the signal and the cable from damage caused by fishing, anchors and other human activities, wildlife, weather, and natural events.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Information travels from one end of these cables to the other through light pulses<\/b> generated by lasers at extremely high speeds<\/b>, moving through glass fibers wrapped in many other materials. All these wires and components are extremely thin, allowing the cable\u2019s total thickness to be close to the circumference of a typical garden hose.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The most modern cables operate using wavelength-division multiplexing<\/b> (WDM). This process involves different wave frequencies \u201cstacking together\u201d along the way and, once they reach the end of the cable, being separated and routed to their respective destinations. This allows multiple streams of information to be transmitted through the same medium at the same time<\/b>, without interfering with one another<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The installation is carried out by specialized vessels<\/b>. Professionals map out the desired route and begin deployment. These ships carry giant spools<\/b>, which can take weeks to wind properly before the journey even starts. Along the route, the spools are slowly unwound and the cable is placed in its designated position on the ocean floor. As the cables approach the coastline, it\u2019s common for them to be buried in trenches created by underwater plows<\/b> to provide extra protection against damage.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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According to the Navy News Agency<\/a>, the cost of implementing<\/b> a large-scale submarine cable can reach 10 million dollars<\/b>. Because of this, these marine connections are usually the result of partnerships<\/b> and negotiations between major technology and communication companies<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The first submarine cable was installed in 1858<\/b> and became known as the \u201cTransatlantic Telegraph Cable<\/b>.\u201d It enabled telegraphic message exchange between Europe and North America and marked the beginning of a revolution in international communications<\/b>, as it made fast, long-distance communication between continents possible through coded messages.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Submarine Cables vs. Satellites: Who Really Drives Global Connectivity?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Since then, technology has evolved exponentially. Today, modern submarine cables transmit data through fiber optics, offering higher speeds, easier deployment, greater information capacity<\/b>, and enhanced security<\/b>. They also have a major advantage in terms of resistance to weather-related interference\u2014heavy rain, climate shifts, typhoons\u2014making them far more stable than satellites<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Another key factor is latency<\/b>, meaning the time it takes for information to reach its destination.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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A submarine cable<\/b> between Tokyo and Los Angeles spans about 9,000 km<\/b>, while the equivalent path via satellite<\/b> would require a distance of around 72,000 km<\/b>. That added distance increases response time and negatively impacts activities such as real-time calls and live broadcasts.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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According to data from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission<\/b>, satellites account for only 0.37%<\/b> of all U.S. international capacity, further reinforcing the dominant role of submarine cables in the global internet infrastructure<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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According to the Brazilian Navy<\/b>, in 1995, data transmission for communications was evenly split between submarine cables and satellites\u201450% each. Today, estimates show that this ratio has shifted to 99% through submarine cables and just 1% through satellites<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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How Many Submarine Cables Exist and How They Shape Global Connectivity<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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According to TeleGeography<\/a>, last year there were 529 submarine cables<\/b> recorded worldwide. This number changes constantly as new cables are installed and older ones are retired or decommissioned due to accidents. Altogether, submarine cables now total more than one million kilometers globally<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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These cables vary widely in size. Some are short, like CeltixConnect<\/b>, at only 131 km<\/b>, linking Ireland to the United Kingdom. Others are much longer, such as the Asia America Gateway<\/b>, which stretches up to 20,000 km<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Submarine Cable Map<\/a> serves as a near-accurate representation of the cables and their routes. This map helps visualize<\/b> each cable and its corresponding name, as well as analyze its landing point<\/b> and departure point and identify the main terrestrial hubs<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Brazil\u2019s Role in the Global Submarine Cable Network<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In Brazil, according to the Navy News Agency<\/b>, underwater communication networks transmit daily information for approximately 134 million Brazilians<\/b>, while also supporting other services such as banking transactions<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Over the centuries, the country has played an important role in the history of this technology, from the first telegraph cables<\/b> to the fiber-optic lines crossing the Atlantic. According to Data Center Dynamics<\/a>, in 2023 Brazil already had the largest number of international submarine cable installations<\/b>, along with the highest capacity of 901 Tbit\/s<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Moreover, Brazil hosts some of the largest submarine cable connection hubs<\/b> in the world, such as in Fortaleza<\/b>, which has become one of the main entry and exit points<\/b> for data in the Southern Hemisphere<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The history of submarine cables in Brazil began in the 19th century<\/b>, marking the start of international telegraphic communications and evolving to become one of the key points in the country\u2019s internet infrastructure<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Where the Internet Enters Brazil: The Country\u2019s Largest Submarine Cable Hubs<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Today, Brazil has more than 15 active submarine cables<\/b>, distributed among four main hubs: Fortaleza (CE)<\/b>, Salvador (BA)<\/b>, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)<\/b>, and Santos (SP)<\/b>. Notable cables include AMX-1<\/b>, GlobeNet<\/b>, and EllaLink<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Most of these international cables land at Brazil\u2019s largest terrestrial hub<\/b>\u2014and one of the largest in Latin America\u2014Fortaleza<\/b>. Others are routed to Santos and Rio de Janeiro, with only two reaching Salvador: AMX-1<\/b> and SAm-1<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The evolution of submarine cables highlights just how complex and essential the infrastructure behind global connectivity<\/b> is for the functioning of the worldwide digital network. With over one million kilometers in operation<\/b> and a central role in global communication, these cables remain the invisible backbone of intercontinental data traffic<\/b>.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Their full operation also relies on terrestrial hubs<\/b>, which are responsible for receiving, amplifying<\/b>, and redistributing<\/b> the transmitted information. World-renowned structures, such as Fortaleza in Brazil, position the country as a critical link in international connectivity<\/b>. The combination of the complexity and resilience<\/b> of submarine cables and the efficiency of terrestrial hubs is what sustains the modern internet<\/b>\u2014fast, dynamic, and indispensable to the functioning of today\u2019s world.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Connectivity<\/a><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Mission-Critical Infrastructure<\/a><\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Insights<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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