Tech Life Keeping connected
Sep 16, 2025
Tony O'Sullivan, CEO of Retin, shares his expertise on maintaining global internet connectivity amidst challenges like earthquakes and geopolitical tensions. He discusses how innovative solutions, such as light beam technology, could revolutionize data transmission. The conversation also touches on how AI and satellite imagery are reshaping wildlife monitoring, revealing surprising insights into migrating wildebeest populations. O'Sullivan's insights highlight the importance of resilience and adaptation in our increasingly connected world.
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Internet Is A Mesh Of Light And Routes
- The global internet runs on a mesh of fibre circuits and data centres where wavelengths of light carry data across interconnects.
- Multiple physical paths and interconnect diversity hide most everyday fibre cuts from customers.
Monitor Fibre With DWDM And Latency
- Monitor the fibre layer with DWDM and latency tools to detect and roughly locate cuts.
- Use that location data to send repair teams and restore service efficiently.
Subsea Cuts Cause Biggest Disruption
- Fibre cuts happen regularly but are usually masked by resilient routing and backup paths.
- Subsea cuts are most disruptive because repairs take weeks to months and can affect multiple systems at once.