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99% Invisible · June 30, 2026 · 00:31:56

Transatlantic Fiber-Optic Expialidocious

99% Invisible tells the story of the audacious project to lay the first transatlantic fiber-optic cable, a gamble that would ultimately enable the global internet. The episode explores the enormous financial and engineering risks involved in connecting continents with light-speed data. It reveals how this invisible infrastructure became the backbone of modern communication, and the visionaries who bet on a connected world.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

The Undersea Gamble
Laying the first transatlantic fiber-optic cable was a high-stakes bet with no guarantee of success.
From Copper to Light
The switch from copper telegraph cables to fiber optics transformed the capacity and speed of global communication.
The Internet's Invisible Backbone
The physical infrastructure of the internet – undersea cables – is largely invisible to users.

Editorial

A 99% Invisible Story
The episode embodies the show's mission: revealing the overlooked design and engineering that shapes our world.
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