In our age of wireless technology, it might be hard to believe that we’re all connected by a few hundred cables running along the sea bed.
From the memes we send to friends, to the intelligence used by the military, virtually all internet data between the continents travels along wires thinner than a human hair. 
If they sound vulnerable, it’s because they are. On average a hundred are accidentally severed each year. 
And security experts are warning they could be a target for military or terrorist sabotage. Caitríona Perry speaks to Nicole Starosielski, professor at the University of California, Berkeley and author of The Undersea Network, who guides us through these secretive networks.
And our security correspondent Frank Gardener helps us understand how vulnerable they are. Producers: Richard Moran and Alix PicklesSound engineers: Mike Regaard and Hannah MontgomeryAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: Sara Wadeson

In our age of wireless technology, it might be hard to believe that we’re all connected by a few hundred cables running along the sea bed. From the memes we send to friends, to the intelligence used by the military, virtually all internet data between the continents travels along wires thinner than a human hair. If they sound vulnerable, it’s because they are. On average a hundred are accidentally severed each year. And security experts are warning they could be a target for military or terrorist sabotage. Caitríona Perry speaks to Nicole Starosielski, professor at the University of California, Berkeley and author of The Undersea Network, who guides us through these secretive networks. And our security correspondent Frank Gardener helps us understand how vulnerable they are. Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles Sound engineers: Mike Regaard and Hannah Montgomery Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

How vulnerable are the undersea cables connecting us all?

Global perspectives on one big story. In-depth insights from the BBC, the world's most trusted international news provider.
Make sense of the news with our experts around the world, every Monday to Friday. Episodes will be ready by 10:30 GMT.
Host Katya Adler and our BBC teams guide you through one major global news story each episode.
From Beijing to Boston, Baghdad to Bangalore, our unrivalled reach will take you beyond the headlines to help understand and explore what’s happening.
The Global News Podcast brings you the latest updates and, on The Global Story, we will drill deep into a single story.
From the climate emergency, to the burning questions around Artificial Intelligence, to the movements of money and markets, and the power of the ballot and the bullet.
Katya Adler has been a BBC correspondent and editor for more than 25 years, covering conflicts in the Middle East, political and economic crises in Europe, and drug cartels in Mexico.
The Global Story team would like to hear your stories and experiences on the issues that we’re covering on the podcast. Please get in touch: theglobalstory@bbc.com #TheGlobalStory and tell us your thoughts on what you would like us to talk about.

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Global perspectives on one big story. In-depth insights from the BBC, the world's most trusted international news provider. Make sense of the news with our experts around the world, every Monday to Friday. Episodes will be ready by 10:30 GMT. Host Katya Adler and our BBC teams guide you through one major global news story each episode. From Beijing to Boston, Baghdad to Bangalore, our unrivalled reach will take you beyond the headlines to help understand and explore what’s happening. The Global News Podcast brings you the latest updates and, on The Global Story, we will drill deep into a single story. From the climate emergency, to the burning questions around Artificial Intelligence, to the movements of money and markets, and the power of the ballot and the bullet. Katya Adler has been a BBC correspondent and editor for more than 25 years, covering conflicts in the Middle East, political and economic crises in Europe, and drug cartels in Mexico. The Global Story team would like to hear your stories and experiences on the issues that we’re covering on the podcast. Please get in touch: theglobalstory@bbc.com #TheGlobalStory and tell us your thoughts on what you would like us to talk about.

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How vulnerable are the undersea cables connecting us all?

How vulnerable are the undersea cables connecting us all?

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