Abstracts

Technology - From Telegraph to Today - Stuart Barnes

Inspired by The History of the World in 100 Objects the talk will address the two hundred year history of submarine systems through the more modest subject of 3 objects.  Submarine Cables (Telegraph, Analogue and Optical). In the presentation he will outline what were the key enablers, who were the movers and shakers, why it was important and finally what lessons were learnt. Many of the lessons learnt, though humorous in hindsight, showed the resilience of the early pioneers.

Boosting Optical Signals – Optical amplifiers – Stephen Desbruslais, CPhys, MInstP

Methods used to boost optical signals of undersea communication systems are considered. Of the possible solutions, the Erbium Doped Fibre Amplifier (EDFA) emerged in the early 90s as the optical amplifier of choice, offering low noise and wide bandwidth. The physics of EDFAs are reviewed and the design constraints impacted by the optical fibre properties are highlighted. The effect of amplifier performance on submarine systems is demonstrated, most notably due to noise and gain flatness.

Repeaters and Branching Units – Design challenges – Kevin Willoughby

Many of the design challenges faced by early submarine telecom industry pioneers remain relevant today, but those innovators could not have imagined the new challenges presented by optical transmission and the immense capacity demanded from modern submarine systems by a data-hungry global population. In this talk, some of the challenges associated with the mechanical design of subsea repeaters and branching units will be explained. Whether it be the precision design of optical amplifiers, the engineering of pressure resistant housings or the rigorous testing of moulded cable joints, a new challenge is never far away.

Constructing the Internet – A Maritime Adventure – Rob Struzyna 

The Victorians installed an international subsea telegraph network which worked remarkably well. However, it worked very slowly and only a few fishermen posed any threat. Today the seabed is a busy place and yet the majority of international internet communications are carried through tiny glass fibres physically connecting countries across the globe. 

The talk explains how increasing human marine activity threatened international communications and what was necessary to make it possible to use delicate glass fibres in a hostile marine environment. The talk shows how the network reliability was greatly improved with a little help from a bush fire in Papua New Guinea. Despite this every now and then a major event such as a tsunami causes a serious disruption.  The talk will give an insight into the resilience of the network and how engineers undertake the often dangerous task of installing and repairing it.

Optical Fibre Innovations for Subsea Transmission – Sergejs Makovejs

We will review drivers behind innovation in subsea optical fiber technology and potential paths in which these fibers could evolve. We will also discuss the ecosystem changes required for each future fiber pathway.