Even with the advent of satellite-based communications systems, the bulk of communications between the US and Europe still depend on a series of underwater cables laboriously laid across the Atlantic. And when a fault occurs the effects can be far-reaching.
The current problem relates to the transatlantic fibre-optic cable known as TAT-14. Implemented in 2001, the cable connects the UK, Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the US, but on Tuesday a fault occurred in the link between the Netherlands and France.
Ownership of the cable is shared between various international telecoms companies. BT, a member of the group, told CNET that the fault occurred in the French sphere of responsibility, and that "France Telecom will send a cable ship out to fix and repair the problem".
Normally one serious fault on the TAT-14 would not create problems, as sufficient redundancy has been built into the system to cope. Unfortunately another fault had already occurred earlier in the month in the US sector and, as this has not yet been rectified, disruption was inevitable.
According to CNET the disruption has largely hit BT's telephone services, but several ISPs, including Telewest and NTL, have also reported problems.