WHAT HAVE THE BRITISH EVER DONE FOR US?

The British Legacy in Submarine Cables: From Telegraphy to the Internet Era

The history of submarine cables is deeply intertwined with British innovation, shaping global communication for over 170 years. The British contributions span from the Telegraph and Telephone Eras to the modern Optical Era, with pioneering advancements in science, technology, and engineering.

Telegraph and Telephone Eras (1850-1986)

• The submarine cable industry began in 1850, with Britain leading in telegraphy. By the Victorian era, electricity's primary use was telegraphing communication, fostering advancements in electrical resistance standards and cable technology.
• In 1938, Alec Harley Reeves, a British engineer, invented Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), the cornerstone of digital communication.
• STC Submarine Systems became the leading supplier of coaxial telephone systems, holding 50% of undirected contracts by the end of the Telephone Era.

Transition to the Optical Era

• In the 1960s, Charles Kao and George Hockham, working under Alec Reeves at STC, proposed transmitting laser light through glass fibers, sparking the optical fiber revolution. Their 1966 research laid the groundwork for fiber optic communication.
• By 1986, STC installed the first commercial optical fiber system, UK-Belgium No. 5, marking the start of the Optical Era. This innovation drastically increased communication capacity compared to coaxial cables.

Major Milestones and Global Collaboration

• TAT-8 (1988): The first transoceanic optical fiber system, jointly developed by AT&T, British Telecom, and France Telecom, showcased international collaboration.
• PTAT-1 (1989): STC supplied the first privately-owned transatlantic system, paving the way for global digital highways envisioned by leaders like Sir Eric Sharp.

Technological Advancements

• Optical amplifiers like the erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA), invented by Professor David Payne in 1986, revolutionized long-distance communication by amplifying signals directly, reducing costs and increasing reliability.
• By 2000, dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) enabled 64 wavelengths per fiber pair, allowing submarine cables to support capacities of up to 640 Gbps.

Challenges and Innovations

• The rise of commercial fishing in the 1980s necessitated burying cables for protection. British innovation led to the development of cable ploughs, a standard in modern cable installations.
• Maintenance challenges led to the creation of universal jointing technologies in the 1990s, ensuring compatibility across systems.

The Internet Age and Beyond

• Submarine cables now form the backbone of the Internet, handling 99% of global data traffic. Companies like Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), with roots in STC, continue to lead the industry.
• Innovations in high-capacity systems, such as 24-fiber pair cables, support the growing demands of AI and cloud-based data centers.

The British Legacy

British contributions, from Sir John Pender’s early telegraph ventures to Tim Berners-Lee’s invention of the World Wide Web, have cemented the UK’s role as a pioneer in global communication. Submarine cables remain the lifeline of the digital world, a testament to centuries of British ingenuity.

Acknowledgments: This summary draws on historical insights from Alcatel Submarine Networks and celebrates British engineering milestones that have shaped the global submarine cable industry.

To read the complete article, check out Issue 139 of the Sub Tel Forum Magazine here