OEC is proud to have contributed two subsea cable samples to The Dutch Subsea Cable Coalition, helping bring the hidden infrastructure of our digital world into view.
Subsea cables are shaping the backbone of global connectivity, carrying the vast majority of international internet traffic, cloud services, and communications. Despite their critical role, these cables remain largely invisible to the public. By donating physical cable sections, OEC hope to help raise awareness of the infrastructure that keeps people, businesses, and countries connected every day.
One of the donated samples is particularly significant: a section of the historic FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe) cable. When it was deployed in the late 1990s, the FLAG system connected Europe and Asia and was among the longest submarine fiber-optic cable networks in the world. As genuine cable sections are rarely available outside the industry, this contribution offers a unique opportunity to showcase an important piece of telecommunications history.
Creating value beyond cable operational lifespan
At OEC, we believe that a cable’s value does not end when it reaches the end of its operational life.
As a European specialist in end-to-end solutions for decommissioned subsea cables, OEC supports the responsible recovery, removal, and repurposing of retired cable systems. Through sustainable material recovery and reuse, we help reduce waste and contribute to a more circular subsea cable industry.
Initiatives such as this donation demonstrate how retired subsea cables can continue to serve a purpose, whether through education, awareness, historical preservation, or material recycling.
Supporting awareness and sustainability
We would like to thank The Dutch Subsea Cable Coalition for highlighting the importance of subsea cable infrastructure and for creating opportunities to make these critical assets more visible to a wider audience. By connecting the story of global connectivity with the principles of sustainability and circularity, we can help ensure that the future of the subsea cable industry is both connected and responsible.
