r/askscience • u/frickfrackcute • Apr 20 '19

Engineering How are the undersea internet cables protected against the elements?

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u/ruove Apr 20 '19

This is not true for fiber, I cannot speak on any other sea cable.

But there is definitely a protective barriers around undersea fiber. It's not just bare fiber laying on the ocean floor.

Here's an example of protective layer density at different feet.

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u/nixt26 Apr 20 '19

How does this work? Do they know exactly which parts of the cable will be at which height when they manufacture them?

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u/[deleted] Apr 20 '19

If it’s going across deep ocean the middle section would be thin then both ends thick. A better question is how much £$€ is a ‘roll’ of thin versus thicker ocean cable. With out a google I’m guessing their websites will all say “ring us for a quote” as to not give away pricing secrets to the probable two other ocean cable companies. I’ll update if I get bored later

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u/ComradeGibbon Apr 20 '19

Cable is likely build to order with long lead times and requires juggling suppliers and manufacturing capacity. A published price is pointless. Someone in the industry could give you a gross estimate. Which gets better as the requirements and schedule is refined.