Age of Discovery-style map of modern submarine cables


You can explore it interactively for free and download a jumbo wallpaper JPEG, but the print edition is $250.

The map, from Telegeography, is full of "whimsical details," including sea monsters, old timey latency scales, and more.

Main Projection: The map depicts routes of 278 in-service and 21 planned undersea cables. Capital cities for each country are also provided.

The map provides latency from the United States, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong to several other countries, presented in milliseconds of round trip delay.

Lit Capacity:

Inset infographics provide lit capacity data from 2002-2013 for the trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific, US-Latin America, and Europe-Asia via Egypt routes.

Cable Installation:

Inset illustrations depict steps in the cable laying process, including the receiving of a submarine cable on shore and the coiling of cable within a ship's tank.

Dangers to Cables:

The map is adorned with images of common causes of cable faults, including fishing vessels, anchors, and trenches on the ocean floor, as well as cable maintenance vessels responsible for repairs. In homage to vintage maps, it also includes ornate illustrations of mythical sea monsters.

The map is printed on Yupo, a high quality synthetic material, and measures 36" x 50" (0.9144 m x 1.27 m). The map is available flat and shipped in a tube (recommended for framing or hanging on a wall) or folded (for more convenient storage and transportation). Heat mounting is not recommended.

Submarine Cable Map


(Thanks, Fipi Lele!)