The Critical Role of Backhaul Management in Submarine Network Topology & Operations

Andy Everest


Subscribe Contact us

Introduction


In today's interconnected world, submarine cable networks form the backbone of global communication, enabling the seamless exchange of data across continents.


While these undersea cables are the epitome of engineering marvels, their effectiveness hinges not only on the ‘wet' network in the seabed, but also on the often-overlooked terrestrial network backhaul.


The terrestrial backhaul — the infrastructure that connects submarine cable landing stations to inland data centres and networks — is as crucial as the submarine network itself. Proper management and handling of terrestrial backhaul partners is essential to ensure the optimal performance, cost-efficiency, and security of all submarine networks.


The Vital Importance of Backhaul Management


Submarine networks are only as strong as their weakest link, and the terrestrial backhaul is a pivotal link in this ecosystem. Without a well-designed and managed backhaul, even the most sophisticated submarine network can face inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and vulnerabilities.


Key reasons why managing terrestrial network backhaul partners is so critical include:


Cost Optimisation


Terrestrial backhaul costs constitute a significant portion of the total network expenditure. Poorly negotiated contracts or suboptimal supplier relationships can inflate operational costs, diminishing the overall profitability of submarine networks.


Network Performance


The design, quality, and reliability of terrestrial backhaul networks directly affect latency, throughput, and overall user experience. A poorly managed partner ecosystem can lead to performance degradation, affecting service delivery.


Security and Risk Mitigation


The terrestrial segment is often more vulnerable to physical and cyber threats compared to submarine cables. Effective partner management ensures that security measures are prioritised, and risks are mitigated.


Scalability and Flexibility


As data demands grow, submarine networks must scale effectively. Well-managed terrestrial backhaul partners enable seamless scaling and adaptability to meet changing requirements.

How We Can Help


Introducing Cambridge Management Consulting’s ‘Backhaul Management As A Service (BMaaS)’, which we’ve put together to address the challenges which we see facing our customers when it comes to designing and building a holistic submarine network inclusive of the terrestrial backhaul.


'Backhaul Management As A Service (BMaaS)', offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to simplify, streamline, and optimise the implementation, and subsequent management, of terrestrial backhaul partners.


BMaaS offers a holistic approach, encompassing strategy, procurement, supplier management, and much more.


Key Components of Cambridge MC’s BMaaS


  • Strategy: We design a glidepath that ensures the acquisition of successful backhaul partners at the right price, with an optimal network design and secure performance.


  • Supplier Management as a Service (SMaaS): A turn-key solution for managing all procurement activities. This service secures best practices and achieves the most optimised cost models.


  • Procurement Management as a Service (PaaS): Our off-the-shelf procurement services streamline and execute the lifecycle of backhaul partnerships.


  • Contract Management as a Service (CMaaS): This addresses the complex challenges of managing contracts and suppliers post-signature, ensuring adherence to terms and performance metrics.


  • Pricing Team Support: Offering robust pricing support and managing RFP/RFQ processes to deliver strategies and solutions for procurement exercises that lie outside normal business-as-usual operations.


  • Invoice & Inventory Auditing & Analytics: A critical review of backhaul services, including supplier inventory and billing, to ensure alignment with contractual agreements.


Summary of Benefits


In conclusion, while submarine networks are critical to global connectivity, their full potential can only be fully realised with effective terrestrial backhaul management. Cambridge Management Consulting’s BMaaS offering provides a structured, strategic, and results-driven approach to managing terrestrial network backhaul partners, ensuring cost-efficiency, performance, and security.


By leveraging BMaaS, clients can navigate the complexities of backhaul management with confidence, unlocking the true value of their submarine network investments, and exploit Cambridge Management Consulting’s vast experience in this sector.


For more information email the team at info@cambridgemc.com or use the contact form below.


Contact - Backhaul Management article

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Blog Subscribe

SHARE CONTENT

Neon 'Open' sign in business window
by Tom Burton 9 October 2025
SMEs make up 99% of UK businesses, three fifths of employment, over 50% of all business revenue, are in everyone's supply chain, and are exposed to largely the same threats as large enterprises. How should they get started with cyber security? Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME) are not immune to the threat of cyber attacks. At the very least, if your business has money then it will be attractive to criminals. And even if you don’t have anything of value, you may still get caught up in a ransomware campaign with all of your data and systems made inaccessible. Unfortunately many SMEs do not have an IT team let alone a cyber security team. It may not be obvious where to start, but inaction can have significant impact on your business by both increasing risk and reducing the confidence to address new opportunities. In this article we outline 5 key questions that can help SMEs to understand what they need to do. Even if you outsource your IT to a supplier these questions are still relevant. Some can’t be delegated, and others are topics for discussion so that you can ensure your service provider is doing the right things, as well as understanding where their responsibilities stop and yours start. Q1: What's Important & Worth Defending Not everything needs protecting equally. In your personal life you will have some possessions that are dear to you and others that you are more laissez-faire about. The same applies to your digital assets, and the start point for any security plan needs to be an audit of the things you own and their importance to your business. Those ‘things’, or assets, may be particular types of data or information. For instance, you may have sensitive intellectual property or trade secrets; you may hold information about your customers that is governed by privacy regulations; or your financial data may be of particular concern. Some of this information needs to be protected from theft, while it may be more important to prevent other types of data from being modified or deleted. It is helpful to build a list of these assets, and their characteristics like the table below:
Illustration of EV sensor fields
by Duncan Clubb 25 September 2025
Explore the rise of edge AI: smaller data centres, faster networks, and sustainable power solutions. See why the future of digital infrastructure is distributed and intelligent | READ FULL ARTICLE
A close-up of the Downing St sign
by Craig Cheney 19 September 2025
Craig Cheney | The conversation around artificial intelligence (AI) in Government has shifted in recent years. The publication of the UK Government’s AI Playbook represents more than just updated guidance — it signals a huge shift in the government's approach to AI.
Volcano lava lake
by Scott Armstrong 18 September 2025
Discover why short-term thinking on sustainability risks business growth. Explore how long-term climate strategy drives resilience, valuation, and trust | READ FULL ARTICLE
Close up of electricity pylon
by Duncan Clubb 17 September 2025
The UK’s AI ambitions face gridlock. Discover how power shortages, costly electricity, and rack density challenges threaten data centre growth – and what’s being done | READ FULL ARTICLE
Abstract neon hexagons
by Tom Burton 17 September 2025
Delaying cybersecurity puts startups at risk. Discover how early safeguards boost investor confidence, customer trust, and long-term business resilience | READ FULL ARTICLE
Neon wave
by Anthony Aarons 16 September 2025
An in-depth look at AI risk and governance: OECD frameworks, EU AI Act, and UK/US strategies reveal how nations balance innovation with safety and accountability | READ NOW
Aerial shot of wind turbines
by Pete Nisbet 15 September 2025
Discover how businesses can drive value through sustainability by focusing on compliance, cost savings, and credibility—building trust, cutting emissions, and attracting investors | READ ARTICLE NOW
Abstract kaleidoscope of AI generated shapes
by Tom Burton 10 September 2025
This article explores the ‘Third Way’ to AI adoption – a balanced approach that enables innovation, defines success clearly, and scales AI responsibly for lasting impact | READ FULL ARTICLE
More posts