SF System: Submarine Cable Route Engineering

The need for a submarine cable link develops as a result of anticipated or existing demands for communication services. Several factors enter into a general route plan. Among these are: (i) system fit--that is, how the submarine cable system will be integrated into existing and planned networks, (ii) economics, in a first-cost sense, where the rule is that the shortest cable distance between two points is the most economical, and (Hi) system reliability, where communications integrity is a prime factor. Economics also plays a part in system reliability in that repair costs above normal system maintenance costs must be considered. Route engineering of the system begins almost as soon as the communications demand is anticipated. System fit locates the end points, or terminal stations, of the cable system within somewhat restricted geographical limits. Once the general locations of the end points have been established, it remains to apply the remaining guide lines to the overall system. Although some cable routes may be short (several hundred kilometers), major routes may link points separated by 3000 to 6000 kilometers. In the longer routes a great circle route may be the 767