How do internet cables that go under the ocean simultaneously handle millions or even billions of data transfers?

Question

I understand the physics behind how the cables themselves work in transmitting light. What I don’t quite understand is how it’s possible to convert millions of messages, emails, etc every second and transmit them back and forth using only a few of those transoceanic cables. Basically, how do they funnel down all that data into several cables?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

You mentioned “only a few of those transoceanic cables” — there are far, far more than a few. There are a few hundred, some longer than others but all serving the same purpose.