AT& Sub Maps

by Bernie S.

Finally, something free from AT&T!

I've just received two copies of the "Submarine Cable Systems Chart of the World," a beautiful 38" x 52" seven-color map produced by the International Cable Engineering Department of AT&T's Long Lines division.

I first became aware of this map last summer when a friend showed me a key ring an AT&T engineer had given him.  It said, "Free AT&T Submarine Cable Maps" and listed a phone number.  When I called it, the woman who answered knew nothing about maps but suggested another AT&T number to try.  After five more calls like this, I finally reached AT&T's International Engineering Division.  The man there denied that such maps were available, but after a little "social engineering" (I told him I was a university professor of telecom engineering and needed the map as a teaching aid), he conceded that a new version was being readied and that he'd see to it that I got a copy.  Four months later the maps arrived in a big tube - it was worth the wait.

The map, a Mercator projection dated December 1986, shows in surprising detail present and proposed submarine cables color-coded as AT&T's, others, and lightguides.  To the best of my knowledge, no major transoceanic optical fibers have been laid yet, but this map shows them anyway.

A disclaimer states, "NOTE: Chart scale prohibits the display of all submarine cable systems.  Precise political and geographic distinctions are not within the scope of this representation."

Still, the map shows quite a lot and is a respectable world map in its own right.  In addition to submarine cable systems, the map details and labels all significant land masses, ice shelves, ocean depths and trenches, mountain ranges, political boundaries, and latitude and longitude.

The Submarine Cable Systems Chart of the World will look great on any hacker's or phreaker's wall.  It obviously cost AT&T a lot of money to produce, so they'll probably be reluctant to give them away to just anybody.  Be sure you have a plausible story cooked up as to why you deserve a map before demanding one.

Good luck!