The first 37 years of operation indicate that the first transatlantic fiber‑optic cable will be decommissioned.

Subsea cable TAT‑8: from old to new

Why it matters and why
Cable TAT‑8
The first transatlantic fiber‑optic line in the world, laid jointly by AT&T, British Telecom and France Telecom. It was commissioned on December 14, 1988 and ceased operation in 2002 after a fault was discovered – repair proved too expensive.

Why it is important
Within just 18 months of its launch its capacity was fully utilized thanks to the rapid growth of the Internet. At the opening ceremony writer Isaac Asimov called it “the first swim across the sea on a beam of light.”

What’s happening now
Subsea Environmental Services has begun dismantling the cable from the seabed near Portugal. The operation is being carried out by the MV Maasvliet – a new diesel‑electric vessel that only entered service in January 2025 and has already completed its fourth submarine cable voyage.

Weather problems
At the start of hurricane season, storms “Dexter” and “Erin” knocked the ship off course, resulting in less cable being recovered than planned. The cable must be wound manually in the hold – mechanical devices could damage the fiber.

Recycling potential
Although TAT‑8 uses fiber optics, it contains a large amount of high‑quality copper needed for power and structural elements. The International Energy Agency projects a 30 % reduction in copper supplies over the decade if new sources cannot keep up with demand. Therefore thousands of kilometers of cable are a valuable target for metallurgy.

What will happen to the remaining materials
The steel sheath will be recycled into fencing, while the polyethylene jacket will be sent to a plant in the Netherlands for granulation and use in non‑food plastics.

Context
TAT‑8 is not the only decommissioned cable still lying on the seabed. Of roughly 2 million kilometers of submarine lines that have been taken out of service worldwide, most have never been removed. Subsea Environmental Services is one of three companies in the world specializing specifically in such dismantling and recycling, allowing existing routes to be cleared for new cables without disturbing untouched sections of the seabed.

Interesting fact
An 18‑km section of TAT‑8 found in the basement of the Bell Labs (now Bell Works) complex in Holmdel, New Jersey was discovered during a reconstruction. It is the same cable that was used during the first sea trials of the fiber‑optic transatlantic connection.

Thus, dismantling TAT‑8 not only eliminates obsolete equipment but also provides valuable copper and other materials for future projects while preserving the integrity of the seabed.