Submarine communications cable

Submarine communications cable, also known as submarine communication cable, is a conductor wrapped with insulating materials and laid on the seabed to establish telecommunications transmission between countries. Modern Submarine communications cable use optical fibers as materials to transmit telephone and Internet signals. The submarine optical cable system is mainly used to connect optical cables and the Internet. It is divided into two parts: onshore equipment and underwater equipment. Submarine optical cables are the most important and vulnerable part of underwater equipment. The Submarine communications cable is also divided into submarine power cable and submarine communication cable. Submarine communication cables are mainly used in communication services, which are relatively expensive but have a high level of confidentiality. Submarine power cables have the same function as underground power cables, mainly used for the transmission of high-power underwater electricity, but the application fields and digital design methods between the two are different. Submarine communications cable project is recognized as the most complex and difficult large-scale project in the world, which is applied to complex technologies from environmental detection and marine physical survey, as well as cable design, manufacturing and installation.

Application of Submarine communications cable products

Submarine communication cables are mainly used in long-distance communication networks, usually between long-distance islands, cross sea military facilities, and other important occasions. The laying distance of submarine power cables is much shorter than that of communication cables, mainly used for connecting between land islands, crossing rivers or harbors, and connecting drilling platforms or drilling platforms from land to each other. In general, the application of Submarine communications cable to transmit power is undoubtedly more expensive than Overhead power line of the same length, but it is often more economical than using small and isolated power stations for regional power generation, and has more benefits in offshore areas. In countries with more islands and rivers, this type of cable is widely used.

Product classification of Submarine communications cable

Impregnated paper wrapped cables are suitable for lines with AC voltage not exceeding 45kV and DC voltage not exceeding 400kV. Currently, installation is only limited to water depths within 500m.

Self contained oil filled cable, suitable for DC or AC power lines up to 750kV. Due to the oil filled nature of the cable, it can be easily laid in waters up to 500m deep.

Extruded insulation (cross-linked polyethylene insulation, Ethylene propylene rubber insulation) cable, suitable for up to 200kV AC voltage. Ethylene propylene rubber can prevent tree branches and local power leakage more effectively than polyethylene, so that Submarine communications cable can play a more effective role.

The "oil pressure" tube cable is only suitable for cable systems that are several kilometers long, as pulling extremely long cables into the pipeline is subject to significant mechanical limitations.

Inflatable (pressure assisted) cable: Inflatable cable wrapped with impregnated paper is more suitable for a longer Submarine communications cable network than oil filled cable. However, because High-pressure area operation must be used in deep water, it increases the difficulty of designing cable and its accessories, which is generally limited to the water depth of 300m.