World wide web
The world wide web relies on cables to function so those cables are essential for global communication through the internet.
This video (from Commoncraft) explains in plain English how the world wide web works.
History of trans-Atlantic cables
This video gives a brief introduction to the very first trans-Atlantic cable that was laid in 1858. Cables enabled communication with Europe and had a huge impact on the United States who had previously been isolated from the rest of the world.
Fibre optic internet cables
This video explains how underwater internet cables are laid.
Submarine cables and the oceans
What can you find on this page?
Cable maps
Click on the image for an interactive cable map of the world.
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Telegeography - 2013 submarine cable mapThis is a 2013 map of submarine cables and includes a timeline of their development.
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The Atlantic - Interactive map of underwater cablesAn article about the map shown above.
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The Guardian -The internet's undersea worldThis map, from 2008, shows the undersea cables at that time. It also gives information on the impact that has occured when cables have been damaged.
Consequences of broken cables
In March 2013 three fiber-optic cables off the coast of Egypt were cut, this resulted in about 1 billion people in Europe, Africa, and Asia experiencing up to 60 percent slower Internet connections.
Click on the image above to access an interactive map highlighting the kind of issues that can arise when cables are damaged.
In your text books...
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Geography Course Companion by ISBN: 0199135436Published: 2011-05-19 -
Cambridge Geography for the IB Diploma Global Interactions by ISBN: 0521147328Published: 2011-01-20You have online access to this book through the home page of this libguide.
In the Senior Library
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How Computers Work by Call Number: Library - Non Fiction 004.16ISBN: 0789730332Published: 2003-10-15Part 7 of this book includes information about the internet and how it works.
