Today's Date is
Aug 18, 2026
First transatlantic fiber-optic cable, 1988
The first transatlantic fiber-optic cable is installed, using glass fibers so transparent that repeaters (to regenerate and recondition the signal) are needed only about 40 miles apart. The shark-proof TAT-8 is dedicated by science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, who praises "this maiden voyage across the sea on a beam of light." Linking North America and France, the 3,148-mile cable is capable of handling 40,000 telephone calls simultaneously using 1.3-micrometer wavelength lasers and single-mode fiber. The total cost of $361 million is less than $10,000 per circuit; the first transatlantic copper cable in 1956 costs $1 million per circuit to plan and install.
The first transatlantic fiber-optic cable is installed, using glass fibers so transparent that repeaters (to regenerate and recondition the signal) are needed only about 40 miles apart. The shark-proof TAT-8 is dedicated by science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, who praises "this maiden voyage across the sea on a beam of light." Linking North America and France, the 3,148-mile cable is capable of handling 40,000 telephone calls simultaneously using 1.3-micrometer wavelength lasers and single-mode fiber. The total cost of $361 million is less than $10,000 per circuit; the first transatlantic copper cable in 1956 costs $1 million per circuit to plan and install.
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Welcome to Hottle & Associates
Ken Haver,
President
President
Welcome to our website, and thank you for allowing us the opportunity to introduce you to our firm.
Hottle & Associates is a full-service, project-oriented engineering, design and drafting firm, located near Akron, Ohio. Our seasoned staff of mechanical engineers, designers and drafters specialize in specialty machine design, industrial design and the design of automated material handling systems. Since 1950, our worldwide project work covers a wide variety of industries, including the Tire & Rubber industry that is so prevalent within our region.
Hottle & Associates is a full-service, project-oriented engineering, design and drafting firm, located near Akron, Ohio. Our seasoned staff of mechanical engineers, designers and drafters specialize in specialty machine design, industrial design and the design of automated material handling systems. Since 1950, our worldwide project work covers a wide variety of industries, including the Tire & Rubber industry that is so prevalent within our region.
We invite you to review our site to learn a bit about us, and we also encourage you to contact us to discuss how we could be of service to you and your business, earn your trust, and become a long-term, valued resource for your engineering, design and drafting needs.