Before submarine cables can be laid, tests must be conducted to decide on the most suitable route. A flat and solid sea bed, stable sea temperatures, and a lack of strong tides or currents are considered ideal conditions for cable laying. Deep trenches and geological fault lines are avoided to prevent damage.
在鋪設海纜之前，要先探勘布纜的路線，它需要海床形勢平坦、地質堅固、潮流微弱、溫度穩定；且必須避開海溝或斷層，以免電纜懸空，容易受損。