Fibre optic cable route surveys

A fibre optic cable is a type of cable that uses light to transmit data as signals through thin glass or plastic fibres. These cables are designed to transmit data at high speeds over long distances, making them ideal for submarine communications.

Fibre optic cables are made up of multiple layers, including a core, cladding, and coating, which work together to transmit data signals. The core is the central part of the fibre, where the data signal is transmitted. The cladding is a layer of material that surrounds the core and helps to reflect the signal back into the core.

The coating is a protective layer that surrounds the cladding and helps to protect the fibre optic cable from damage. This intricate design ensures that data can travel vast distances with minimal loss and interference, making fibre optic cables the preferred choice for modern telecommunications.

Subsea cables are laid through a meticulous and highly engineered process that involves detailed planning, precise surveys, and specialised equipment. We play a crucial role in this process by providing advanced fibre optic cable route surveys to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible cable installation.

The process begins with route planning and surveys, where our expertise helps to identify the most suitable path for the cable. Using technologies like geophysical and geotechnical surveys, Fugro assesses seabed conditions, identify potential hazards, and ensure the cable route avoids sensitive environmental areas and obstructions like shipwrecks or rocky terrain.

Once the route is determined, installation planning ensures that the cable can be laid securely. Fugro provides support during this phase, helping mitigate risks associated with seabed instability or challenging conditions.

During the cable laying ship operation, specialised cable-laying vessels deploy the cable along the pre-determined route. Throughout this stage, Fugro's data and insights ensure the cable is placed with precision, avoiding damage and optimising its longevity.

Our involvement in this process ensures that subsea cables are laid with minimal environmental impact while maintaining operational excellence and safety. Their expertise is essential for the successful deployment of the global communication and energy infrastructure that relies on these vital connections.

Before laying a submarine fibre optic cable, it is essential to conduct a thorough route survey to ensure that the cable is laid in the most efficient and safe route possible. Route surveys involve mapping the seafloor to identify any potential hazards, such as underwater mountains or trenches, that could damage the cable. The survey also helps to identify the best route for the cable to take, taking into account factors such as water depth, currents, and marine life.

By conducting a thorough route survey, cable operators can minimise the risk of damage to the cable and ensure that it is laid in a way that minimises its impact on the environment. These surveys are crucial for the successful deployment and longevity of submarine fibre optic cables.

Submarine fibre optic cables play a vital role in global connectivity, but their installation and maintenance can impact the marine environment if not managed responsibly. Laying cables can disturb seabed habitats, potentially affecting marine ecosystems and disrupting the natural balance. Cables may inadvertently attract marine life, increasing the risk of entanglement or habitat interference.

Fugro takes proactive measures to minimise these impacts through sustainable practices:

• Comprehensive Route Surveys: Advanced geophysical and geotechnical surveys identify the most environmentally suitable cable routes, avoiding sensitive habitats and minimising disruption to marine ecosystems.

• Environmentally Friendly Practices: Fugro supports the use of sustainable materials and installation techniques to reduce ecological footprints.

• Environmental Assessments: Detailed assessments ensure potential impacts are identified and mitigated before installation begins.

• Tailored Installation Planning: Our expert planning reduces risks to both the environment and the infrastructure, ensuring safe and efficient operations.

By integrating these measures, We help protect marine ecosystems while enabling the growth of global communication networks, ensuring sustainability and connectivity go hand in hand.

An estimated 99% of international communication is transmitted through a network of land and undersea fibre optic cables. These cables form the backbone of the global internet and telecommunications infrastructure, carrying massive amounts of data for activities such as phone calls, video streaming, emails, social media, financial transactions, and more.

Breakdown of Communication:

• Undersea cable laying: Submarine cables connect continents and countries across oceans, enabling high-speed, low-latency data transfer. These cables handle nearly all international data traffic, as they are faster and more reliable than satellite communication. Over 1.4 million kilometres of submarine cables are in operation worldwide, serving as the foundation for global connectivity.

• Land cable laying: Land-based fibre optic cables connect regions within countries and across borders, ensuring seamless communication networks. These cables act as extensions of undersea cables, distributing data to cities, businesses, and homes.

While satellites are essential for specific uses, such as remote area connectivity, they handle less than 1% of global data traffic. Submarine and land cables are preferred due to their higher capacity, speed, and reliability.

This reliance on cables highlights their critical importance for powering the modern digital world, supporting everything from everyday internet use to essential infrastructure like financial systems and cloud services.

The technology used in submarine fibre optic cables is constantly evolving, with new innovations being developed all the time. One of the most significant recent innovations is the development of space-division multiplexing (SDM), which allows multiple signals to be transmitted through a single fibre optic cable. This technology has the potential to significantly increase the capacity of submarine fibre optic cables, making them even more efficient and effective.

Another innovation is the development of multi-core fibre, which allows multiple signals to be transmitted through a single fibre. This technology has the potential to significantly increase the capacity of submarine fibre optic cables, making them even more efficient and effective. These advancements are driving the submarine cable industry forward, enabling faster and more reliable global communications.