You probably have a wireless network at home, but for some applications a wired connection is still more reliable. It’s the same in internet backbone communications — satellites help keep the world in sync, but the best connections across the globe rely upon undersea fiber optic cables. Google came through with a cable that could transmit 60 terabytes of data per second, more than any other active undersea cable. The cable was the speed king for that moment, but its rule has suddenly been cut short. Microsoft and Facebook have finally finished laying a cable from the US to southern Europe with a capacity of 160 Terabytes of data per second across eight cable pairs. I guess Google will just have to limp along with FASTER.
Marea is a joint project between Microsoft, Facebook and global telecommunication infrastructure company Telxius, that helps to upgrade the global internet infrastructure to better meet the rapidly growing demand for internet and cloud services in our increasingly connected world.
More than 17,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, there now lies the “most technologically advanced subsea cable,” providing up to 160 terabits (Tbps) of data per second — beating Google’s alternative, now poorly named, “Faster.” The cable is the handiwork of Facebook, Microsoft, and Spanish telecommunication company Telxius.
Construction on the cable, which stretches 4,000 miles from Virginia Beach, Virginia to Bilbao, Spain, began in August 2016. Microsoft announced its completion on Thursday, but it won’t be operational until early 2018.
Facebook, Microsoft, and Telxius will jointly own the cable, which weighs almost 10.25 million pounds — as much as 34 blue whales. Telxius will serve as the cable’s operator and will sell and lease its capacity to outside service providers. Microsoft and Facebook will use the cable to serve their own capacity needs.
“The superstorm sparked the realization that another major event could disrupt the vital connectivity lifeline across the Atlantic,” Microsoft said in a blog post. “As part of its ongoing efforts to drive innovation and expand capacity of its global network, Microsoft sought options for making transatlantic connections more resilient.”
