Submarine Cables: Pros and Cons
A submarine cable is a telecommunication cable laid under the sea to connect telecommunications between countries separated by water. Its development includes:
- Telegraphy data;
- Telephone communication;
- Up to the present, in the form of communication data.
Modern technology today uses Fiber Optic cables to carry digital data, telephone data, internet, and also personal data. So submarine cables use optical fiber technology made of glass fibers, called fiber optic communication, in which information is converted into optical signals (light) using an LED light source.
Illustration of the layers of a submarine cable, with optical fiber in the core
(source: https://rri.co.id/samarinda/pendidikan/iptek/1197439/mengenal-jalur-kabel-bawah-laut-jasuka-yang-menjadi-sumber-gangguan-jaringan-internet-indihome-telkomsel)
This technology, which continues to develop over time, has many advantages that will keep growing as time goes by, including:
- Wide bandwidth, so it can carry large amounts of information
- High speed with no noise
- Unaffected by electric and magnetic fields
- Signals inside the cable are secure
- Resistant to toxic gases, chemicals, and water
- Very low attenuation, which reduces the number of joints and repeaters
Besides its advantages, any advanced technology certainly has disadvantages. The disadvantages are as follows:
- High cost, for its construction and maintenance
- Data conversion to light and vice versa which is difficult
- Requires special equipment and procedures, for its use and installation
- requires skilled personnel
- can absorb hydrogen, which can cause data loss
- causes damage to marine ecosystems
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Written by Hanif Hakim Assayaf
