Throughline The Internet Under the Sea
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Oct 23, 2025 
Ben Roberts, an expert in subsea cable engineering, shares insights on the fragility of undersea cables and their pivotal role in carrying most internet traffic. Cyrus Field IV, a descendant of the visionary behind the first transatlantic cable, discusses his ancestor’s determination to connect the world across oceans. They explore the challenges of cable construction, including storms and mechanical failures, as well as the modern implications of recent cable disruptions, raising concerns about sabotage in today’s interconnected world.
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Undersea Cables Power Global Internet
- Almost all intercontinental internet traffic travels through hundreds of fragile fiber-optic cables on the ocean floor rather than satellites.
- These cables form a global web that could wrap Earth ~36 times and carry payments, video, and calls.
Tiny Cables, Huge Consequences
- Modern subsea fiber-optic cables are extremely thin — about the thickness of a human hair or a dime in deep water.
- Two to four cables break every week from simple causes like anchors or possible sabotage, disrupting large regions.
How Cyrus Field Got the Idea
- Cyrus Field, a retired paper magnate, was inspired by Frederick Gisborne's telegraph plan and a globe to attempt an Atlantic cable.
- He assembled wealthy backers called the "cable cabinet" and pushed to link Ireland to Newfoundland and beyond.
