How glass fiber is shaping the internet

All modern means of communication rely on glass. From the Gorilla glass on our phones to the infotainment screens on our cars. But when I think of the internet I think of 5G, Starlink satellites, and WiFi, and I never think about the 750,000 miles of fiber optic cables currently running under our oceans: the tiny strands of glass that carry all of our photos, emails, and video chats. It is through these hair-thin strands of fiber that we are able to instantly communicate to almost anyone, anywhere, and it all relies on a 5,000-year-old technology: glass.

[TheVerge]

What’s your actual fastest internet speed at home and where are you from?

[SoCloudy]

This is the quality content I'm subscribed for

[undercoverduck]

Love the frequency-to-font-size analogy! It's a very elegant way to quickly explain something rather complex.

[SleepyPossums]

Becca, this video was amazing! We take so much of this stuff for granted and it’s fascinating to see behind the curtain. Thank you!

[JigilJigil]

This is the kind of content I expect from the Verge, going out, doing some interviews, showing some labs, people and scientists, instead of sitting in front of camera lecturing your audience after gathering some info from Wikipedia. good job 👍

[sidhanth]

Buds?
She reviewed soo many ear buds that she sees buds everywhere.

[adriang]

I really liked that last statement about "Glass Age" super cool.

[wonderowl]

I feel like a TWS every time Becca calls me “buds”

[simpleairplane]

I'm actually still amazed everytime i see a glass fiber cable
What an engineering marvel😊

[domramsey]

Awesome video, Becca. Amazing work. (Although a little heavy on the buds for my tastes! :) )

[kaseybarber]

Lol was I the only one who got old of being called “buds”
Anyways great video!

[kenthan]

That was super interesting. More, please! :D

[LashanR]

I can't get over how effortlessly cool and brilliant that intro was 🤩

[ccroy]

I remember way back in the 1980's going to a library, getting books and writing a report on fiber optics. Then I lost track as my career took me elsewhere. This was amazing! Great video.

[tulipfewer]

Hey, buds, I am the one who added subtitles to this video. Feels great to see my work!

[junedanieltamor]

"Buds" **immediately uncomfortable**

[robjulianmaghinang]

The Verge has some of the best hosts and narrators on the web! Always a pleasure to listen to them

[ArchieGee]

Woah Becca the production quality is amazing in this video!

[MarcDuchesne]

Excellent introduction to optical communications. I wish I had it at disposal when I was teaching Fiber 101 to future OSP techs... Great job !

[rasenmaher]

Yes, electrons do not move as fast as light, they are pretty slow in fact, but this doesnt matter, because it‘s the electric field, that carries the information in a cable and it does indeed propagate at the speed of light.