How IP Addresses Are Carried Across Undersea Cables

Introduction: The Glass Highway

We often think of the internet as 'The Cloud', but 99% of global traffic travels through physical glass cables on the bottom of the ocean. These Submarine Cables are the 'Bridges' between the world's IP addresses. They are the only reason you can load a website from Europe in under a second.

The Speed of Light

Data travels as pulses of light inside these cables. Your IP address is part of the 'Header' that tells every amplifier and switch along the ocean floor exactly where that light needs to go next.

Conclusion

The internet is a physical wonder. Every second, trillions of IP packets are racing through the dark, cold depths of the ocean to keep us connected. See your global data path here.