Integration of ocean observing systems within submarine telecom networks

Abstract

The undersea telecommunications industry recognizes the scientific and offshore industries' need for robust and reliable communication networks to support a wide variety of applications. Scientific and offshore networks often have specialized requirements beyond those that they share with traditional undersea telecom systems; these specialized features require tailored products and services to meet network needs. High-bandwidth fiber optic communication via powered, undersea telecommunication systems enables the interconnection of many scientific and offshore facilities in a multi-layered, co-use or shared, network. Through the use of traditional undersea telecommunication elements such as Cable, Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFA), Branching Units, and land-based Transmission & Power Feed Equipment (PFE), the undersea telecom industry can establish a backbone infrastructure that can serve as the foundation for scientific and offshore networks. Expanding beyond the aforementioned elements, wet-mate connection manifolds permit the organization of different types of subsea sensors, and communications with entire groups of natural resource exploration and production facilities. Further, wet-mate connection manifolds may be connected to, or be part of, subsea nodes. Subsea nodes provide significant advantages for the connection of sensing equipment and surface buoys which can be readily integrated with subsea communication infrastructure. The undersea telecom industry has also developed families of products which enable connection of deep water floating oil and gas production facilities or buoys. Utilizing specialized components designed for a dynamic marine environment, this connection hardware has demonstrated that the high number of fatigue cycles expected in such an environment can be accommodated when properly designed and deployed. While many of the workings of a communication network can be very detailed and complex, supporting dozens of offshore facilities or sensors, the industry has also developed product families to connect systems which do not have such vast requirements. More economical products are employed when communication distances are shorter, such that EDFAs and PFEs are not required. Utilizing similar concepts as their larger, powered cousins, non-powered systems use smaller cables and connectors to deliver equally high-capacity and robust communications networks.Both classes of telecommunication systems can also facilitate the inclusion of sub-systems utilizing long-reach wireless technologies such as microwave, WiMAX, etc. Possessing the appropriate technology to design and connect a reliable communications network is an important factor when considering subsea network architectures. Of similar importance is the ability to properly install and commission these types of networks. As with its specialized product lines, the undersea telecom industry has tailored installation methods along with purpose-designed ships to successfully deploy, commission, maintain, and repair all of the components required to create a successful subsea network. This paper is intended to provide an overview of the products and capabilities that the undersea telecommunications industry has to offer. It will hopefully stimulate discussion of new and exciting applications and configurations for the scientific and offshore communities.