The TAT-8 system became the first transatlantic submarine cable to carry traffic using optical fiber. It showed that high-capacity data could be sent reliably as light signals across an ocean, which helped set the pattern for the modern internet’s physical backbone.
FLAG Europe Asia (part of the Fibre-optic Link Around the Globe, or FLAG) opened a new, long-distance route linking Europe and Asia. This kind of multi-region cable reduced dependence on slower satellite links and created more direct paths for international data traffic.
The SEA-ME-WE 3 consortium planned for the system to be placed into operation for customer service by late March 1999. SEA-ME-WE systems aimed to provide a continuous, high-capacity path between Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe, strengthening connectivity across many countries.
Southern Cross entered service to link Australia and New Zealand with the United States via the Pacific. By adding major new trans-Pacific capacity and route diversity, it supported rapid growth in internet use and cross-border business connections in the region.
SAT-3/WASC became ready for service, connecting Europe to multiple landing points along West Africa and down to South Africa. It was a major step toward shifting international connectivity from satellite-heavy links to higher-capacity fiber routes for many coastal countries.
SEA-ME-WE 4 launched services as a large cable network spanning roughly 20,000 km between Singapore and France. It increased capacity along a busy Europe–Middle East–Asia corridor and helped meet growing broadband and internet traffic demands.
SEACOM was completed and commissioned, providing a major new undersea route linking parts of East and Southern Africa to global networks. This added competition and capacity, which helped lower costs and improve internet performance in several countries.
The Eastern Africa Submarine System (EASSy) became ready for service, adding another long coastal route with multiple landing stations. Together with other cables, it improved resilience by providing more than one path for traffic to enter and leave the region.
The West Africa Cable System (WACS) entered service, providing high-capacity fiber links between southern Africa, West Africa, and Europe. By adding an alternative to older systems, it improved redundancy (backup routing) and expanded available bandwidth.
The Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) cable carried first traffic, extending fiber connectivity to many countries along West Africa and into Europe. It also brought first-time direct submarine-cable access to several countries, reducing reliance on more expensive or less capable alternatives.
The MAREA transatlantic cable began operating, adding a major high-capacity route between the United States and Europe. It also highlighted a shift: large cloud and content companies increasingly invest directly in submarine infrastructure to meet fast-growing data needs.
Google’s Dunant cable was announced as ready for service, linking Virginia Beach in the United States to Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez in France. By the end of this 1988–2020 period, submarine cable deployment had become central to global internet expansion, with both telecom consortia and major internet companies shaping new builds.
Global Submarine Cable Deployments (1988–2020)