Abstract :
In the 150 years since the first transatlantic communications cable was laid, the nature, scale and content of information transmission have changed almost beyond recognition. The subsea cables that carry this information have similarly developed, most notably in the volume of capacity they can carry. This exponential increase been achieved through introduction of digital, optical transmission and the development of viable international commercial methodologies to permit the construction of multi-million dollar trans-oceanic cables. A combination of consortium and private cables now offer a range of alternatives from which international operators can source capacity to create the networks by which they in turn will offer services to their customers.
