Key Points
- The United Nations established a new body to enhance the protection and resilience of submarine cables.
- Submarine cables carry over 99% of global data, making them vital for communication and economic stability.
- In 2023, 200 cable failures were reported, most caused by natural hazards or human accidents.
- The advisory group includes 40 experts, with a summit planned in Nigeria in February.
The United Nations’ technology agency has established a specialized body to enhance the protection and resilience of submarine cables, a crucial infrastructure that carries over 99% of global data. These cables are essential for international communication, powering everything from emails and video streaming to critical government operations. The new initiative seeks to address vulnerabilities, accelerate repairs, and reduce the risk of prolonged disruptions.
Submarine cables face multiple threats, including aging infrastructure, adverse weather, and human accidents, such as anchor strikes. They are also at risk from deliberate acts, such as the suspected sabotage of two cables beneath the Baltic Sea in November.
Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), emphasized the strategic importance of these cables and noted their impact on global economies and societies. He stated that the new body will ensure greater resilience in these cables’ construction, deployment, and maintenance.
Although the ITU occasionally receives reports of alleged sabotage, Lamanauskas clarified that it lacks the mandate to investigate or assign blame. Instead, the advisory body will prioritize mitigating disruptions and swiftly restoring connectivity, partly by expediting permits for repairs.
In 2023 alone, approximately 200 cable failures were reported, 80% attributed to natural hazards or human errors. However, in isolated regions such as Tonga, damage to a single cable can have devastating consequences. A 2022 tsunami severed the island nation’s submarine cable, leaving it disconnected from the world for a month.
The newly formed International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience comprises 40 global experts from the public and private sectors, including representatives from telecommunications firms, cable operators, and government agencies. A follow-up summit is scheduled for Nigeria in February to build on these efforts.
