Space Weather + Sub Cables | Shibaji Chakraborty, PhD
Perhaps you've seen the Aurora Borealis. This is a beautiful example of what we call space weather.
But did you know that space weather could take out service on submarine cables?
Shibaji Chakraborty, a research scientist at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, joins the show to explain how space weather can affect the critical, metallic power-feed cables that run alongside the fiber-optic lines to power repeaters on the ocean floor.
Shibaji shares historical examples and discusses the ongoing research and industry collaboration needed to better understand, model, and mitigate these risks.
We're adding this special bonus discussion to our submarine cable pod series. Catch up on our other cable conversations over here:
All About Cable Economics
All About Cable Security
All About Cable Faults + Maintenance
All About Cable Routing
All About Cable Sensing
Podcast HQ: https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-explains-the-internet-podcast
TeleGeography Blog: https://blog.telegeography.com/
Our Research: https://www2.telegeography.com/en/our-research
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616: All About Network Resiliency | Tony O’Sullivan
Tony O’Sullivan, CEO of RETN, joins Greg to discuss network resiliency.
They address how providers can build networks that withstand outages, whether from someone who forgot to call the utility company or an anchor dragging on the seafloor.
The episode covers:
Why it's crucial to have a transparent provider willing to share information about their network when they can, including the physical locations of fiber routes and who their upstream providers are.
The importance of planning routes to avoid single points of failure. Tony makes the case for terrestrial networks that can serve as alternatives to some submarine cable routes, and getting the best mix of the two options.
Insights on the future of network automation, emphasizing that it's not just about instant provisioning, but also providing customers with the information they need to make educated purchasing decisions.
Podcast HQ: https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-explains-the-internet-podcast
TeleGeography Blog: https://blog.telegeography.com/
Our Research: https://www2.telegeography.com/en/our-research
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Submarine Cable Sensing | Mark Englund
In our final episode of this special podcast series about undersea cables, we're exploring the rapidly evolving technology of using fiber optic cables as remote sensors.
We welcome Mark Englund, CEO of Fibersense. Mark explains the fascinating world of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), and how this emerging technology is turning existing fiber optic cables into sentient, continuous sensors. We explore:
How this is transforming the cable industry, providing unparalleled real-time protection by detecting anchors and fishing gear and other potential threats.
How Fibersense uses machine learning to cut through the ocean's "cacophony" and make the data actionable for cable operators.
Finally, we spend a little time looking beyond the subsea, exploring the immense potential of DAS for terrestrial fiber in applications like protection against excavators, water leak detection in city infrastructure, and even a new vision for traffic safety and autonomous.
Podcast HQ: https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-explains-the-internet-podcast
TeleGeography Blog: https://blog.telegeography.com/
Our Research: https://www2.telegeography.com/en/our-research
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615: Wait But Why...Do We Use the Internet Like That?
Today's bonus podcast welcomes Tim Urban, author of the blog Wait But Why (https://waitbutwhy.com/) and the book "What's Our Problem?"
For a change of pace, this episode focuses on what happens *on* the consumer internet, not just the underlying technology and business of the web.
You'll quickly see that Tim is an astute observer of human trends, with a wealth of insight on how the internet has complicated communication and contributed to humans' tendency to fall into tribalism.
Host Greg Bryan relates these insights to the structure of the global telecom industry as the pair considers the breadth of human history and how our brains, in some ways, are ill-equipped to handle the environment in which we find ourselves in the 21st century.
This discussion covers:
The internet's role in the evolution of human communication, and context for this current moment of memes, sharing, liking, subscribing, and, in general, a culture of being terminally online.
Tim's forthcoming book, which attempts to tell the story of everything from the Big Bang to the end of the universe. (Don't worry if that sounds like a big topic; the pair focuses on the section about AI.)
Where AI will go from here? The conversation ties in how the internet is the physical backbone for this new "synthetic brain" that we are building, and what that might mean.
Podcast HQ: https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-explains-the-internet-podcast
TeleGeography Blog: https://blog.telegeography.com/
Our Research: https://www2.telegeography.com/en/our-research
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Submarine Cable Routing | James Porter
Where do operators physically place their submarine cables, and why does that matter?
Even among those familiar with the undersea cable market, many don't give much thought to where precisely the cables lie on the seafloor and what factors determine this geography.
Today's guest knows a thing or two about how it gets done. We welcome James Porter, Cable Route Engineer at Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN).
James spends his days studying maps to route submarine cables, ensuring ease of maintenance and compliance with guidelines. He joins Greg to discuss the challenges of seabed congestion, particularly in deep-water areas where new cables must be laid at a safe distance from existing ones to ensure they can be repaired in the future.
The pair also discuss:
The role of the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) and its recommendations for planning new cables to avoid impacting existing systems.
The complexities of geopolitics and physical geography, which often restrict cable routes and force them into congested choke points.
The critical need for better communication and data sharing among industry players to more efficiently and safely manage the crowded seabed.
🎧 Podcast HQ: https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-explains-the-internet-podcast
💻 TeleGeography Blog: https://blog.telegeography.com/
📊 Our Research: https://www2.telegeography.com/en/our-research
Ireland