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Study Guide: Transatlantic Telephone Cable TAT-9: History and Technology

Cheat Sheet:
Transatlantic Telephone Cable TAT-9: History and Technology Study Guide

Introduction and Purpose of Transatlantic Cables

The fundamental purpose of a transatlantic telephone cable system is to transmit signals across the Pacific Ocean.

Answer: False

Explanation: Transatlantic cable systems, by definition, are designed to transmit signals across the Atlantic Ocean, connecting continents on either side of that body of water.

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The acronym TAT, in the context of submarine cables, stands for Transatlantic Teleportation.

Answer: False

Explanation: In the context of submarine cables, TAT is understood to stand for Transatlantic Telephone.

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Submarine communications cables, such as TAT-9, are primarily utilized for transmitting data between satellites.

Answer: False

Explanation: Submarine communications cables like TAT-9 form the backbone for transmitting data between terrestrial locations across oceans, not for communication with satellites.

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What was the primary function of the TAT-9 cable system?

Answer: To transmit telephone signals and telecommunication data across the Atlantic Ocean.

Explanation: The principal objective of transatlantic telephone cable systems, including TAT-9, is to facilitate the transmission of voice and data communications across the Atlantic Ocean, thereby connecting continents.

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What does the acronym TAT most likely stand for in the context of submarine cables like TAT-9?

Answer: Transatlantic Telephone

Explanation: In the nomenclature of submarine communication cables, TAT is conventionally understood to signify Transatlantic Telephone.

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What is the fundamental purpose of a transatlantic telephone cable system?

Answer: To transmit telephone signals and telecommunication data across the Atlantic Ocean.

Explanation: The primary objective of transatlantic telephone cable systems is to establish robust and high-capacity communication links for voice and data transmission between the continents bordering the Atlantic Ocean.

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What does the term 'telephony' refer to in the context of TAT-9's function?

Answer: The transmission of voice communications over telephone lines.

Explanation: In the context of telecommunications infrastructure like TAT-9, 'telephony' specifically denotes the transmission of voice communications via telephone networks.

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TAT-9: Technical Specifications and Advancements

The TAT-9 system represented a significant technological milestone as the inaugural transatlantic telephone cable to utilize fiber optic technology.

Answer: False

Explanation: While TAT-9 was a pioneering fiber optic system, TAT-8, which became operational in 1988, was the first transatlantic telephone cable system to utilize fiber optic technology.

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The data transmission capacity of the TAT-9 cable system was equivalent to approximately 8,000 telephone circuits.

Answer: False

Explanation: The TAT-9 cable system possessed a significantly higher capacity, equivalent to approximately 80,000 telephone circuits, not 8,000.

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The TAT-9 cable system achieved a data transmission capacity of 565 Mbit/s, representing a substantial advancement for its era.

Answer: True

Explanation: TAT-9 operated at a speed of 565 Mbit/s, which was indeed a significant technological advancement for transatlantic cable systems at the time of its deployment.

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The TAT-9 cable system operated at the same data transmission speed as its predecessor, TAT-8.

Answer: False

Explanation: TAT-9 operated at 565 Mbit/s, which was twice the speed of TAT-8 (280 Mbit/s), the pioneering transatlantic fiber optic cable.

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Fiber optic technology transmits data utilizing electrical signals propagated through copper wires.

Answer: False

Explanation: Fiber optic technology transmits data using pulses of light guided through thin strands of glass or plastic, not electrical signals through copper wires.

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The capacity of 560 Mbit/s for TAT-9 was equivalent to approximately 800,000 telephone circuits.

Answer: False

Explanation: A capacity of 560 Mbit/s for TAT-9 was equivalent to approximately 80,000 telephone circuits, not 800,000.

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The transition to fiber optics, exemplified by TAT-9, resulted in a decrease in the capacity for transatlantic data transmission.

Answer: False

Explanation: The adoption of fiber optics, as seen in TAT-9, dramatically increased data transmission capacity and speed compared to previous technologies.

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TAT-9's designation as the ninth cable in the series implies it was the first to employ fiber optic technology.

Answer: False

Explanation: The designation TAT-9 indicates its sequential position in the series. TAT-8 was the pioneering transatlantic fiber optic cable system.

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The speed of 565 Mbit/s enabled by TAT-9 could support only a limited number of high-speed internet connections.

Answer: False

Explanation: A speed of 565 Mbit/s represented a substantial capacity, capable of supporting numerous high-speed connections and a wide array of telecommunication services.

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What was the approximate data transmission capacity of TAT-9, expressed in terms of telephone circuits?

Answer: Approximately 80,000 telephone circuits.

Explanation: The TAT-9 system possessed a substantial capacity, estimated to be equivalent to approximately 80,000 simultaneous telephone circuits.

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What technological advancement did TAT-9 represent in transatlantic fiber optic technology?

Answer: It was the first fiber optic system to operate at 565 Mbit/s.

Explanation: TAT-9 was distinguished as the first fiber optic transatlantic cable system to achieve an operational speed of 565 Mbit/s, marking a significant increase in data transmission capability.

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How did TAT-9's operational speed compare to the earlier TAT-8 system?

Answer: TAT-9 was twice the speed of TAT-8.

Explanation: TAT-9 operated at 565 Mbit/s, which was double the speed of TAT-8 (280 Mbit/s), demonstrating a notable progression in transmission technology.

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How did TAT-9's capacity of 560 Mbit/s relate to traditional telephone circuits?

Answer: It was equivalent to approximately 80,000 telephone circuits.

Explanation: The data transmission rate of 560 Mbit/s for TAT-9 was equivalent to the capacity required for approximately 80,000 standard telephone circuits, illustrating its immense bandwidth.

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What is the main technological difference highlighted between TAT-8 and TAT-9?

Answer: TAT-9 was faster and introduced on-demand switching, while TAT-8 was the pioneering fiber optic system.

Explanation: While TAT-8 pioneered transatlantic fiber optic technology, TAT-9 represented a significant evolution by operating at double the speed and introducing the novel capability of on-demand traffic switching.

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What does the data transfer speed of 565 Mbit/s enable in practical terms for systems like TAT-9?

Answer: Transmission of large volumes of data quickly, supporting multiple high-speed services.

Explanation: A data transfer speed of 565 Mbit/s provides substantial bandwidth, enabling the rapid transmission of large data volumes and supporting a multitude of high-speed services, including internet connectivity and voice communications.

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TAT-9: Operational Network and Infrastructure

The TAT-9 cable system maintained operational status for a duration of approximately twelve years.

Answer: True

Explanation: The TAT-9 cable system was operational from 1992 to 2004, spanning a period of twelve years.

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The TAT-9 cable system exclusively facilitated connections between the continents of Europe and Asia.

Answer: False

Explanation: The TAT-9 cable system primarily connected Europe and North America, not Europe and Asia.

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The European landing points for the TAT-9 cable system included locations within the United Kingdom, France, and Spain.

Answer: True

Explanation: The source confirms that TAT-9 had landing points in Goonhilly, United Kingdom; Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, France; and Conil de la Frontera, Spain.

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The North American landing points for the TAT-9 cable system were situated exclusively within the United States.

Answer: False

Explanation: The North American landing points for TAT-9 included Manahawkin, New Jersey (United States), and Pennant Point, Nova Scotia (Canada).

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The presence of multiple landing points for a submarine cable primarily serves to increase the risk of system failure.

Answer: False

Explanation: Multiple landing points enhance network resilience by providing alternative routes and redundancy, thereby reducing the overall risk of catastrophic failure.

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A 'landing point' for a submarine cable refers to the location where the cable is manufactured on land.

Answer: False

Explanation: A landing point is the geographical location on land where an undersea cable makes landfall, connecting the subsea infrastructure to terrestrial networks.

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From which years was the TAT-9 cable system operational?

Answer: 1992 to 2004

Explanation: The TAT-9 cable system was operational for a twelve-year period, commencing in 1992 and concluding in 2004.

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Which pair of continents did the TAT-9 cable system primarily connect?

Answer: Europe and North America

Explanation: The TAT-9 cable system was engineered to establish direct communication links between Europe and North America.

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Identify one of the European landing points for the TAT-9 cable system.

Answer: Goonhilly, United Kingdom

Explanation: The European landing points for TAT-9 included Goonhilly in the United Kingdom, Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez in France, and Conil de la Frontera in Spain.

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Which North American location served as a landing point for the TAT-9 cable system?

Answer: Manahawkin, New Jersey

Explanation: Manahawkin, New Jersey, in the United States, was one of the North American landing points for the TAT-9 cable system, alongside Pennant Point, Nova Scotia, Canada.

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What advantage do multiple landing points provide to submarine cable networks like TAT-9?

Answer: They enhance network resilience and allow direct connectivity to various regions.

Explanation: Multiple landing points contribute significantly to network resilience by offering redundancy and enabling direct connectivity to diverse geographical regions, thereby improving overall system robustness and accessibility.

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What does the term 'landing point' signify in the context of submarine cables?

Answer: The location on land where the undersea cable makes landfall.

Explanation: A 'landing point' denotes the specific terrestrial location where a submarine cable emerges from the ocean and connects to land-based infrastructure.

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Which of the following was NOT listed as a landing point for TAT-9?

Answer: New York City, USA

Explanation: The documented landing points for TAT-9 included Pennant Point (Canada), Manahawkin (USA), Goonhilly (UK), Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez (France), and Conil de la Frontera (Spain). New York City was not among them.

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TAT-9: Development, Ownership, and Consortium

The construction of the TAT-9 cable system was undertaken solely by a single American telecommunications entity.

Answer: False

Explanation: The TAT-9 system was the product of an international consortium, involving multiple co-owners and suppliers, rather than being constructed by a single company.

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AT&T Corporation, British Telecom, and France Telecom were identified as key suppliers for the TAT-9 system.

Answer: False

Explanation: AT&T Corporation, British Telecom, and France Telecom were identified as key co-owners of the TAT-9 system, not solely as suppliers.

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A primary economic benefit derived from TAT-9's traffic switching capability was an increase in operational costs for smaller nations.

Answer: False

Explanation: The traffic switching capability provided economic benefits, such as making participation more accessible for smaller nations by allowing them to afford their own landing points.

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The term 'international consortium' implies that the development of TAT-9 involved companies from only a single country.

Answer: False

Explanation: An 'international consortium' signifies a collaborative undertaking involving entities from multiple nations, pooling resources and expertise.

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AT&T Corporation was a minor participant in the TAT-9 project, lacking co-ownership status.

Answer: False

Explanation: AT&T Corporation was identified as one of the key co-owners of the TAT-9 system, indicating a significant role in its development and operation.

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British Telecom was involved in the TAT-9 project solely in the capacity of a technology supplier.

Answer: False

Explanation: British Telecom was a key co-owner of the TAT-9 system, indicating a role beyond that of a mere technology supplier.

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France Telecom's participation in the TAT-9 project was limited to providing technical expertise for installation.

Answer: False

Explanation: France Telecom was identified as a key co-owner of the TAT-9 system, suggesting a role encompassing more than just installation expertise.

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Suppliers within the TAT-9 consortium were solely responsible for funding the entire project.

Answer: False

Explanation: The funding of such large-scale projects typically involves contributions from all consortium members (co-owners), not solely from suppliers.

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How was the TAT-9 cable system constructed?

Answer: By an international consortium of companies.

Explanation: The TAT-9 system was developed and constructed through the collaborative efforts of an international consortium comprising various telecommunications companies.

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Which of the following companies was identified as a key co-owner of the TAT-9 system?

Answer: British Telecom

Explanation: British Telecom was among the principal co-owners of the TAT-9 transatlantic telephone cable system.

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What was a significant economic advantage of TAT-9's traffic switching capability for smaller nations?

Answer: It allowed smaller countries to afford their own landing points in the network.

Explanation: The dynamic traffic switching feature democratized access to high-capacity international communication, enabling smaller nations to participate more affordably by establishing their own landing points within the network.

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What does the term 'international consortium' imply about the development of TAT-9?

Answer: It was a collaborative effort involving multiple companies from different countries.

Explanation: The designation 'international consortium' indicates that the development and deployment of TAT-9 were achieved through the cooperative efforts of multiple companies representing various nations.

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Which of these companies was a key co-owner of the TAT-9 system?

Answer: AT&T Corporation

Explanation: AT&T Corporation was identified as one of the principal co-owners involved in the development and operation of the TAT-9 transatlantic cable system.

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The collaborative nature of the 'international consortium' suggests TAT-9 was:

Answer: A project of significant scale, cost, and complexity requiring combined resources.

Explanation: The formation of an international consortium implies that the TAT-9 project was of substantial scale, involving considerable financial investment and technical complexity, necessitating the pooling of resources from multiple entities.

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What is the primary role of suppliers within the consortium that built TAT-9?

Answer: To provide the necessary technology, equipment, and expertise.

Explanation: Suppliers within a consortium typically contribute by furnishing the requisite technology, specialized equipment, and technical expertise essential for the design, manufacturing, and deployment of the cable system.

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TAT-9: Technological Innovations (Switching and UBMs)

TAT-9 introduced the capability for dynamic traffic switching among its various landing points.

Answer: True

Explanation: TAT-9 was the first transatlantic cable system to incorporate the functionality of switching traffic on demand between its multiple landing points.

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The traffic switching capability of TAT-9 allowed it to manage traffic across its two primary landing points.

Answer: False

Explanation: TAT-9 possessed five landing points, and its switching capability allowed it to manage traffic among all of them, not just two.

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TAT-9's switching capability facilitated the network's adaptation to fluctuating traffic demands at individual stations.

Answer: True

Explanation: The dynamic traffic switching enabled the network to flexibly accommodate variations in traffic demands across its various connection points.

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Undersea Branching Multiplexers (UBMs) were the specific technology enabling TAT-9's traffic switching functionality.

Answer: True

Explanation: The source identifies Undersea Branching Multiplexers (UBMs) as the technological components that facilitated the traffic switching capabilities of the TAT-9 system.

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'Switching traffic on demand' implies that the system could only direct traffic to a single, pre-determined destination.

Answer: False

Explanation: Switching traffic on demand signifies the system's capability to dynamically allocate and redirect communication capacity among multiple destinations as required.

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Undersea Branching Multiplexers (UBMs) were devices employed for the cooling of the undersea cable system.

Answer: False

Explanation: UBMs were specifically designed to enable the traffic switching functionality within the TAT-9 system, not for cooling purposes.

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TAT-9's dynamic traffic switching capability likely exacerbated network efficiency by inducing congestion.

Answer: False

Explanation: Dynamic traffic switching is designed to enhance network efficiency by optimizing bandwidth allocation and rerouting traffic to prevent congestion.

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What innovative feature did TAT-9 introduce for managing traffic between its landing points?

Answer: Switching traffic on demand between multiple points.

Explanation: TAT-9 was the first transatlantic cable system to incorporate the capability of switching traffic on demand, allowing for dynamic allocation and redirection of data flow among its landing points.

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How many distinct landing points could TAT-9 switch traffic among?

Answer: Five

Explanation: The TAT-9 system was equipped to switch traffic among its five designated landing points located across North America and Europe.

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Besides benefiting smaller nations, what other advantage did TAT-9's switching capability offer?

Answer: It allowed the network to flexibly accommodate fluctuations in traffic demands.

Explanation: The advanced switching capability provided the network with the flexibility to dynamically adjust and accommodate varying traffic demands across its different segments and landing points.

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What specific technology enabled the traffic switching functionality in TAT-9?

Answer: Undersea Branching Multiplexers (UBMs)

Explanation: The traffic switching capability of TAT-9 was facilitated by the implementation of Undersea Branching Multiplexers (UBMs), which were the first fiber optic switching devices of their kind.

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What does it mean for a system like TAT-9 to 'switch traffic on demand'?

Answer: The system could dynamically allocate or redirect communication capacity as needed.

Explanation: Switching traffic on demand signifies the system's capacity for dynamic resource allocation, allowing communication pathways to be rerouted or capacity adjusted in response to real-time network requirements.

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How might TAT-9's dynamic traffic switching have improved network efficiency?

Answer: By optimizing bandwidth use and preventing congestion through rerouting.

Explanation: Dynamic traffic switching enhances network efficiency by enabling the optimal utilization of bandwidth and preventing congestion through intelligent rerouting of data traffic based on real-time demand.

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Impact and Significance of TAT-9

TAT-9 significantly decreased the capacity and reliability of transatlantic communication.

Answer: False

Explanation: TAT-9 substantially increased the capacity and reliability of transatlantic communication, marking a significant advancement in global connectivity.

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How did the adoption of fiber optic technology, as implemented in TAT-9, impact transatlantic communication?

Answer: It increased capacity and speed, enabling internet growth.

Explanation: The transition to fiber optics, exemplified by TAT-9, dramatically enhanced the capacity and speed of transatlantic data transmission, providing the foundational infrastructure for the burgeoning internet and global digital services.

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What does the operational period of TAT-9 (1992-2004) suggest about major transatlantic cables?

Answer: They are built for longevity, reflecting significant investment.

Explanation: An operational lifespan exceeding a decade, as demonstrated by TAT-9, indicates that these major infrastructure projects are designed for long-term service, reflecting the substantial capital investment and sustained demand they fulfill.

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