Does your message cross the ocean? Internet has a life under the sea

You press send, and off it goes. We do it so often that we rarely think about the journey. When a connection crosses continents, part of that journey may run beneath an ocean. The internet has an underwater geography, too.

The network we cannot see from the beach

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) says submarine cables carry more than 99% of international data traffic. Your message from the kitchen to the living room does not have to cross the Atlantic, of course; the figure concerns traffic between countries.

The route changes with the networks and services we use. A video call with a friend overseas is a lovely reminder of how much we rely on connections we will never see from our windows.

Inside the cable: optical fibre

Protected inside the cable are optical fibres carrying pulses of light. The outer layers shield them from the marine environment. Those tiny fibres do the work of carrying the data.

Some cables at sea carry electricity. These have a different job: carrying data from one shore to another.

Leif Erikson: the planned link between Canada and Norway

Bulk Infrastructure’s projects include Leif Erikson, a proposed link between Norway and Canada. The company describes a route connecting the Kristiansand area with Montréal through subsea and land infrastructure, adding another transatlantic connection.

Bulk also highlights access to renewable energy in the regions involved as part of its plans for the project.

When will the connection open?

Bulk’s page, consulted on 20 October 2026, gives two timelines: service in 2026 and three years from the contract coming into force. These leave the activation date unclear.

Before a message can travel through a new cable, there is funding, contracts, installation and the launch of the service. It takes shape one step at a time; look to the operator for the opening date.

Why these cables matter to us

The ITU identifies risks including fishing, anchors, natural events and ageing infrastructure. A cable failure does not by itself establish sabotage: the cause needs to be investigated.

A resilient network can keep connections going or restore them after a fault. For us, that means being able to work, study, pay and talk to one another. Think of a moment when you really needed a connection: that is why reliability matters.

Next time you hear ‘the cloud’

Behind our digital services are physical places, materials and people. Knowing where data travels adds something to the wonder of speaking with someone far away: we glimpse the work that brings their voice to us.

Next time a message arrives from the other side of the world, pause for a thought. On your screen, a line of text. Behind it, perhaps an ocean.