Path Planning of a New Undersea Telecommunications Cable with Consideration of Crossing Angle with Existing Cables

Abstract

Undersea telecommunication cables are critical components of the global infrastructure, with nearly every coastal nation connected via these "seabed highways." As of early 2025, there are over 600 active and planned undersea cables worldwide, spanning approximately 1.48 million kilometers and transmitting 99% of global internet traffic. Traditional manual path planning methods are inefficient and often result in suboptimal cable paths, making them difficult to account simultaneously for a range of natural factors and human activities that could impact cable cost and reliability. Notably, existing research overlooks planning guidelines recommended by the International Cable Protection Committ..