Submarine Fiber Optic Cables Form the Physical Backbone of the Internet

The Physical Reality of Global Internet

The internet, often perceived as an ethereal and ubiquitous entity, is fundamentally dependent on a vast physical infrastructure. International data transmission primarily occurs through approximately 1.5 million kilometers of fiber optic cables laid across ocean floors, rather than via satellite technology.

Cable Landing Points

These submarine cables connect continents by surfacing at specific landing points along coastlines. These locations are chosen for their suitability, requiring conditions such as gently sloping seabeds, mild ocean currents, and minimal marine traffic to prevent damage from anchors or trawlers. The scarcity of such ideal spots often leads to multiple cables sharing the same landing beaches.

An Example: The Strait of Gibraltar

One such landing point is El Burgo–Torrenueva, a beach near La Línea de la Concepción, Spain, where a fiber optic cable emerges from the Mediterranean. This cable extends across the Strait of Gibraltar to Ceuta, an autonomous Spanish city on the North African coast, and continues to other continents. Ceuta, an important connection point, previously relied on a single aging network link.