[jl6]

The article mentions the number of fibres in this cable is 12, and that new technology was used to increase that number.

What is the limit on how many fibres can go in a cable? Should we expect future cables to have 50 fibres, or 100, or 1000, or more?

[doikor]

Problem is powering the repeaters. More fibers are not going to help if you can not use them. They mention in the article the improvements in the repeater design to cut down power draw to allow more fibers to be used.

[blantonl]

I think the limitation is based on repeater and laser-pump equipment to repeat the signal along the length of the cable run.

I suspect that the repeaters and associated power equipment along the line is pretty big stuff. So the fact that this cable is able to "share" that equipment across the 12 fibers is a breakthrough in technology.