In an increasingly interconnected world, submarine cables serve as a lifeline for the global digital economy. They are essential for boosting global connectivity and enabling those in underserved or remote areas to access the Internet. Their development is also crucial to meet the surging global demand for data transmission. It is estimated that nearly 200,000 km of new submarine cables were installed in 2024, and this growth is likely to persist over the next few years.
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Resilience is critical to realize the opportunities that submarine cables offer. Any disruption to the flow of data can have far-reaching consequences, affecting economies, industry, security and safety, and Internet access for billions of people.
The key vulnerabilities of submarine cables relate mainly to accidental human activity such as fishing and anchoring, followed by natural hazards such as earthquakes, underwater landslides, and tsunamis. In addition, challenges such as aging infrastructure and complex regulatory environments can complicate efforts to maintain resilience.
Over 200 cable repairs were reported worldwide in 2023 by the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), equivalent to more than three cable failures per week on average.
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Ensuring that these cables are robust and able to withstand threats is critical to maintaining global connectivity, business continuity, and economic stability. ITU is at the forefront of global efforts to strengthen the resilience of submarine cables through collaboration and innovative initiatives.
