Future submarine systems

Summary form only given. Optical amplifiers in conjunction with WDM and submerged optical add-drop multiplexers (OADM) will enable a truly global subsea network, which provides network restoration in the case of cable faults and cost-effective connectivity to many countries as part of a shared network where dedicated point to point cable systems are not yet economically viable. SeaMeWe-3, a cable system currently under manufacture and linking nearly 40 countries, is at the forefront of this process. The paper examines these applications and trends in submarine systems in greater detail.