Understanding Cable Landing Station and Undersea Internet Cables
The global internet works through cables under the ocean. In fact, more than 99% of internet traffic between countries goes through these undersea cables. To make this work, the cables need special spots to reach land and connect to local networks. Basically, a cable landing station joins undersea cables to land fiber networks. Without it, internet data cannot get to people on land. The submarine cable industry has grown a lot in recent years. According to TeleGeography’s 2024 Submarine Cable Map, there are now 559 cable systems and 1,636 landing points that are active or being built. From 2023 to 2025, a $10 billion cable boom added 78 new systems with over 300,000 kilometers of cables. This increases the need for more dark fiber to connect cable landing stations to data centers and users. What is a Cable Landing Station? A cable landing station is a building where undersea cables connect to land networks. Also, these stations have machines to receive signals from the undersea cables and send them through land networks. It also protects the machines and gives power to the cable system. Inside, there are repeaters, amplifiers, and other devices that keep signals strong over long distances. Because of this, modern cable landing stations can handle a lot of data. For example, big companies like Google and Meta put money into submarine cables. The 2024 Submarine Cable Map shows that Google has 26 cable systems and Meta has 15. This means these companies need dark fiber connections from the stations to their data centers. So, these stations are important places where international internet enters a country and joins local networks. How Deep Can Undersea Cables Go? Undersea cables can go as deep as 8,000 meters, but usually they stay on the ocean floor at different depths. Some are in shallow water, while others go very deep. The Atlantic Ocean is about 3,650 meters deep, so cables usually follow the seabed at this depth. In 2024, the Italian company Prysmian made a record by putting a power cable 2,150 meters deep for the Tyrrhenian Link project between Sicily and Sardinia, connecting to a cable landing station onshore. Cable depth can also change depending on the place. Near the shore, cables are buried to keep them safe from anchors and fishing. In deep water, they just lie on the seabed. Also, cable routes avoid deep ocean trenches. Operators choose paths that balance depth and distance. When cables reach a cable landing station, they move from the ocean to safe buildings, where dark fiber carries the data on land. What Happens If Undersea Cables Are Cut? If undersea cables are cut, internet traffic goes through other cables automatically. Luckily, modern networks have backups for failures. Submarine Network shows that about 199 cable faults happen worldwide every year (2010–2024). Because of this, most companies use more than one cable landing station or system to avoid total outages. Still, cable cuts can cause problems. For example, cuts in the Red Sea stopped 25% of data traffic between Europe and Asia in 2024, based on UN insights. Most of the time, fishing and anchoring caused the faults. This shows why having many dark fiber routes from cable landing stations to data centers is important. Then, multiple fiber paths can act as backup when submarine cables fail, and landing stations with these connections are stronger. How Long Does It Take to Fix an Undersea Cable? Repairing undersea cables usually takes 1–2 weeks, plus time for ships to reach the site. Ghana’s National Communications Authority, 2024 says repair ships need 2–3 weeks to travel from Europe to West Africa and get spare parts. Total repair time from the nearest cable landing station can be 5 weeks or more. Repair time depends on location and depth. Deeper cables are harder to fix. Submarine Networks says repairs cost $500,000 to $1 million per incident. Some take longer. In 2023, the longest repair took 947 days. These long repairs show why reliable dark fiber and well-managed cable landing stations are needed to keep data flowing during cable problems. Building Reliable Networks for the Future A cable landing station is very important for the internet. It connects undersea cables to networks on land. With 559 submarine systems planned or active, this station is needed more than ever. Dark fiber networks carry the connection from the station to data centers and users in different areas. Together, the undersea cable and fiber routes make a strong network for growing internet needs. ARNet operates a large dark fiber network in Southeast Asia. It provides dedicated fiber in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. ARNet owns over 10,000 kilometers of fiber connecting 60+ data centers. The network includes long-haul routes between cities, metro fiber in urban areas, and last-mile fiber to facilities. This infrastructure supports major companies and hyperscalers in the region. ARNet has several advantages. It controls its network from planning to deployment, ensuring faster and more predictable results. It promises over 99.99% uptime with real-time monitoring. The network spans multiple countries and offers diverse routes, protecting against cable cuts. ARNet also holds all needed licenses as the only single-entity provider in Southeast Asia. For companies needing reliable dark fiber from a cable landing station to data centers, ARNet provides the infrastructure and expertise to keep operations running smoothly. About the Author Nabila Choirunnisa, Digital Marketing Executive at ARNet
Underground Cable Basics: Types, Depth, and Installation Guide
Underground cables play a very important role in today’s world. They carry internet, phone signals, and electricity from one place to another. Engineers place these cables under the ground to protect them from rain, heat, wind, and accidents. The placement provides cities and countries with a more stable and safe connection. More companies have started to use them. The market for underground fiber optic cables reached USD 13 billion in 2024, based on GM Insights. Businesses need strong and stable networks to support more data use. Understanding how these systems work helps companies make better choices for their network plans. This is helpful for businesses that want to expand to many locations. What type of cable is used underground? Fiber optic, copper, and power are the main types of underground cables. Fiber optic sends data as light signals through glass or plastic fibers. This allows very fast data transfer over long distances. GSMA reported that 5G use drives higher demand for fiber, with global 5G use expected to reach over 56% by 2030. Copper cables, such as twisted pair and coaxial, carry telephone, internet, and cable TV services. Workers install power lines underground to deliver electricity to homes and offices. Engineers choose the type of cable based on purpose and local regulations, ensuring each cable has strong insulation and outer protection. How deep should underground cables be buried? Contractors bury underground cables 24 to 36 inches deep, depending on the type and local rules. Telecommunication cables usually go at least 24 inches (60 cm) deep to avoid light digging. In 2024, the Fiber Broadband Association reported a median cost of $18.25 per foot for underground fiber. Power cables go deeper because they carry electricity, often 30 to 36 inches (75 to 90 cm) or more. Installers check soil conditions, traffic, cold weather, and local rules before work. How long does direct burial wire last in the ground? Direct burial fiber optic underground cables usually last 20 to 30 years. High-quality ones can last up to 40 years or more if installed properly. Their lifespan depends on several factors, especially water exposure. Water entering through a cracked jacket can damage the fibers inside. Soil type also matters. Wet or acidic soil wears them down faster than dry, stable soil. Proper installation of underground cables protects them from stress and damage during digging and placement. Regular checks and signal monitoring detect small problems early. Network teams can fix issues before they become bigger and more expensive. Building reliable networks with dark fiber Underground cables form the base of modern telecom networks. Companies that choose the right cable, bury it at the correct depth, and install it properly can make the network last for many years. Businesses enjoy stable and fast connections and can expand their network as their needs grow. Dark fiber gives companies full control of their network. ARNet operates more than 10,000 km of fiber network across Southeast Asia. The company supports hyperscalers and large businesses in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. It provides long haul links, metro fiber networks, and last mile fiber delivery. This wide coverage allows businesses to build networks that match their exact needs. ARNet is the only provider in the region that controls all key licenses under one company. This leads to fewer delays and smoother coordination. The company builds and manages its own underground cables, so performance stays consistent in every location. It uses real-time monitoring to keep a committed SLA. Fast deployment and strong network control help ARNet provide businesses with stable and scalable dark fiber networks across Southeast Asia. About the Author Nabila Choirunnisa, Digital Marketing Executive at ARNet
Understanding Submarine Cable Map and Dark Fiber Infrastructure for Global Connectivity
The internet around the world runs through physical cables placed under the ocean. These submarine cables carry more than 95% of global data between countries. According to Grand View Research, the submarine cable market reached USD 31.70 billion in 2024. This market keeps growing because more people need fast and stable internet. A submarine cable map shows where these cables connect countries and continents. Dark fiber works together with submarine cables to support strong network systems. Dark fiber means unused fiber optic cables that companies can rent or own for their own networks. Many businesses use a submarine cable map to see where cables land and plan their connections. Because of this, understanding how submarine cables and dark fiber work together helps companies choose the right internet setup. How deep are submarine cables buried? Submarine cables are buried at different depths based on where they are located. A submarine cable map typically shows the routes of these cables across the ocean floor. In shallow waters near the coast, crews bury cables 1 meter deep into the ocean floor. This protects them from ship anchors and fishing nets. According to KIS-ORCA, special underwater plows dig narrow trenches to bury the cables. However, deep ocean areas do not need cable burial. Instead, cables in deep water just sit on the ocean floor. This is because fewer ships and fishing boats go to those deep areas. Looking at any submarine cable map, you can see that cables crossing deep ocean trenches sit at depths over 8,000 feet below sea level. Meanwhile, companies use water jets and underwater robots to bury cables in areas up to 2,000 meters deep. What happens when undersea internet cables are cut? Damaged submarine cables quickly stop internet services. Countries lose their internet connection until workers fix the cables. A submarine cable map helps network operators see which cables are affected and plan alternate routes during outages. For example, Internet Society reported that in March 2024, four cables were damaged off the coast of West Africa. This affected many countries at the same time. Fixing broken cables needs special ships and trained workers. First, workers pull the broken cable from the ocean floor onto the repair ship. Then, they connect new cable pieces to fix the break. Most simple repairs take 5 to 15 days. However, harder repairs in dangerous areas can take many months. For instance, Recorded Future found that cable breaks in the Red Sea in February 2024 took almost five months to fix. This was because of permit delays and safety concerns in that region. Why do we need undersea cables with satellites available? There are many reasons why submarine cables are still very important today: Satellites are still useful in places where cables cannot reach. Remote islands and far areas often use satellites because it is hard to install cables there. But according to TeleGeography, satellites carry less than 0.37% of the world’s data. Most busy coastal areas use submarine cables instead. MarketsandMarkets also says the submarine cable market reached USD 18.2 billion in 2024. It is expected to grow to USD 29.7 billion by 2029. Big companies like Google and Meta continue to build new submarine cables. Today, there are 559 active submarine cable systems around the world. Building reliable network infrastructure Submarine cables are the main foundation of global internet connectivity. Businesses need reliable fiber infrastructure to send and receive their data. Dark fiber solutions give dedicated bandwidth without sharing with other users. This means companies can grow their network speed as they need more data capacity. Companies can check the submarine cable map to see how their location connects to global networks. ARNet provides dark fiber solutions that connect businesses to important network infrastructure. Our dark fiber services let companies control their own network capacity and speed. ARNet’s infrastructure links to major submarine cable landing stations and data centers across the region. We help businesses understand the submarine cable map and connect to the right landing points for their needs. If your business needs connections between countries in Southeast Asia using sea cables, ARNet can help. We help businesses understand the submarine cable map and connect to the right landing points for their needs. Choose ARNet because we offer dedicated fiber solutions with guaranteed bandwidth and low delay times. Our network infrastructure helps businesses that need secure and reliable internet for their work. ARNet’s dark fiber services remove the speed limits that shared networks create. This gives your company the performance needed for applications that use lots of data. About the Author Nabila Choirunnisa, Digital Marketing Executive at ARNet