Global undersea networks

Summary form only given. Starting last year, a new generation of undersea systems using the latest fiber-optic and network technology began being installed worldwide and will, upon completion by the turn of the century, transform the international communications grid into truly global undersea communication networks. This paper discusses six such networks and describes how these networks will transform the business of providing international communication services by lowering costs and increasing available services bandwidth. This paper will also bring into focus how new technologies such as wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) can be applied to enhance and expand communication services on these installed networks.