We always hear about satellite transmissions and GPS , but there is a tremendous network of cables around the whole earth that are at the bottom of the oceans and they connect countries with submarine fiber-optic cables. Here is a map that shows all of the places these cables go around the world. One of the interesting things that I was noticing is that a bunch go from off the coast of Washington and northern Oregon, where so many of the riots are happening. I wonder if there is some kind of a connection between the two ? Anyway, here is the link to the world map that shows all of the underwater cables. https://www.submarinecablemap.com/
I first heard of those when I worked for a telecommunication company back in the 80s. The process of laying that cable over the undersea mountains and valleys is quite impressive. If I recall correctly, the cable has got to be hauled to the surface in order to effect repairs, because in some places it lays too deep for divers. I had no idea there was as much as that map shows, but in the grand scheme of things, it's no more than a pimple on a gnat in a football stadium...if that.
When undersea cables transmitted information in the past it was through copper wires. I read that the US was able to tap a Russian cable under the North Sea as a consequence. The fiber optic cables used these days, as far as I know, can't be tapped.
Right. Fiber optics transmission relies on "packets" of light, not electrons as in copper conductors, making inductive coupling impossible. h.p.