The undersea cable gamble that helped make the global internet possible
This preview is based on the episode’s published notes, not the audio itself. The episode appears to explore the high-stakes undersea fiber-optic cable project that helped connect the internet across the Atlantic, drawing on Jane Ruffino’s Wired story.
Based on the show notes alone, this episode looks like a focused story about a pivotal piece of infrastructure: the undersea cable that helped turn the internet into a global network. If you’re drawn to stories about hidden systems, engineering bets, or the physical backbone behind everyday digital life, this seems like a strong pick. The notes frame the cable as a major “gamble” made before the internet went global, suggesting the episode may center on risk, ambition, and the long-term impact of a single transatlantic connection. It also points listeners to Jane Ruffino’s Wired story, “Say Goodbye to the Undersea Cable That Made the Global Internet Possible,” which gives a useful clue about the episode’s source material and perspective. What this preview can say with confidence is limited to the published metadata: the episode is likely about undersea fiber-optic infrastructure and its role in enabling worldwide internet connectivity. If that premise interests you, this sounds like an episode that connects technological history with the often-invisible physical systems beneath modern communication. If you’re deciding whether to listen, expect a story rooted in internet history and undersea engineering rather than a broad overview of the web. The appeal here is the idea that one cable, and the gamble behind it, mattered enormously.
About this episode
<p>Before the internet went global, one undersea gamble made it possible. </p> <p>Jane Ruffino’s story, "<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/say-goodbye-to-the-undersea-cable-that-made-the-global-internet-possible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Say Goodbye to the Undersea Cable That Made the Global Internet Possible</a>," appears in the May-June issue of <i>Wired</i> magazine.</p> <p><p>Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early. <br><br>Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting <a href="http://siriusxm.com/podcastsplus." target="_blank">siriusxm.com/podcastsplus</a>. </p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>