Transatlantic Cables: Maisha Tasnim

Transatlantic telegraph cables were undersea cables running under the Atlantic Ocean used for telegraph communications. Telegraph communication has become backdated now and its cables been decommissioned long ago, but telephone and data are still carried on other transatlantic telecommunications cables. The first cable was laid in the 1850s across the floor of the Atlantic from Valentina in western Ireland to Bay of Bulls, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland. The first communication happened on August 16, 1858, but the line speed was poor and efforts to improve it caused thus cable to fail after three weeks.

Transatlantic cables consisted of seven copper wires, each weighing 26 kg/km, covered with three coats of gutta-percha, weighing 65kg/km, and wound with tarred hemp, over which a sheath of 18 strands, each of seven iron wires, was laid in a close helix. It weighed nearly 580 kg/km, was relatively flexible, and was able to withstand a pull of several tons.

Cyrus West Field and the Atlantic Telegraph Company between 1854 to 1858 took the charge of the construction of the first transatlantic telegraph cable. The cable functioned for only three weeks, the first official telegram to pass between two continents was well congratulated by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom to President of the United States James Buchanan on August 16. But due to a weak signal, the cable was destroyed the following month. It has been argued that the faulty manufacture, storage, and handling of this cable may lead to great danger, thereby, it undermined public and investor confidence and delayed efforts to restore a connection.