Terrestrial cable

A terrestrial cable is a communications cable which crosses land, rather than water. Terrestrial cable may be subterranean (buried) or aerial (suspended from poles), and may be fiber or copper.^[1][2] The term "terrestrial cable" is principally used to distinguish it from submarine cable,^[3] although some overlap exists between the two.^[4]

Major terrestrial cable systems include the Europe-Persia Express Gateway and the family of Eurasia terrestrial cable networks.^[5][6][7]

Telephone lineman suspending aerial communications cable from a pole, 1940.

Mixed fiber and copper communications cables carrying telephone, television, and Internet, 2017.

Subterranean cables being buried in a trench, 2021.

Fiber-optic communications cable being buried in protective duct, 2016.

Fiber-optic communications cable being installed in a manhole, 2011.

Portable fiber splicing hut working above a manhole, 2007.

See also

• Aerial cable
• Utility pole
• Undergrounding
• Direct-buried cable
• List of terrestrial fibre optic cable projects in Africa