Submarine cable plank launched to combat damage and sabotage
- ITU and ICPC announce the launch of a new submarine cable protection plate
- 40 members from around the world will oversee the international initiative
- The news comes as sabotage threats increase due to geopolitical tensions
At the end of last month we reported that two submarine cables had been sabotaged in Europe. On the same day one was repaired, two telecom giants set up an international advisory council to protect undersea cables from future attacks.
On November 29, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) announced the creation of the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience.
From launch, 40 members will form the committee, including ministers, regulatory heads, industry executives and senior experts.
New board launched to protect submarine cables
The ITU wrote: “The Advisory Body will explore ways to improve the resilience of cables by promoting best practices for governments and industry players to ensure the timely deployment and repair of submarine cables, reduce the risks of damage and ensure continuity of communications across the improve cables.”
ITU Secretary General Doreen Bogdan-Martin added: “The Advisory Body will mobilize expertise from around the world to ensure that this vital digital infrastructure remains resilient in the face of disasters, accidents and other risks.”
Submarine cables are believed to provide 99% of the world’s international data exchange. The ICPC says 150 to 200 submarine cable faults occur worldwide every year. Fishing and anchoring errors, along with natural causes such as wear and tear, are often to blame, but increased geopolitical tensions contribute to the threat of sabotage.
Co-Chair of the Advisory Body and Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic for Nigeria, Minister Bosun Tijani, noted: “Submarine cables are essential to the functioning of our connected world, but they face risks that require coordinated, proactive action.”
Professor Sandra Maximiano, Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Communications Authority of the Republic of Portugal and Co-Chair of the Advisory Body, added: “This initiative underlines the commitment of the global community to strengthen these networks and international cooperation for digital resilience to promote. .”
Looking ahead, the Body has committed to meeting at least twice a year to consult experts on telecommunications, digital resilience infrastructure development, infrastructure investment and international policy. The first meeting, a virtual one, is scheduled for this month. In February 2025, the Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in Abuja, Nigeria, will mark the first in-person meeting of the Board of Directors.