The vulnerabilities of subsea data cables have attracted sustained popular and policy attention. Around the world, policymakers are searching for best practices to deal with the impact of cable damage, both intentional and accidental. These efforts take place against the background of great power competition between the United States and China over the governance and security of subsea infrastructure. The “Geopolitics of Subsea Data Cables” project provides a cross-regional perspective on how geopolitical developments are impacting subsea cable investment, deployment, repair, and resilience in three geographical areas: Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
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99% of the Internet Runs Through These Cables and They’re at Risk
Nearly 600 fiber-optic cables lie across the ocean floor, quietly carrying 99% of global data and more than $10 trillion in financial transactions every day. For decades, these subsea cables have been “out of sight, out of mind.” But a wave of suspicious cable cuts, geopolitical competition, and physical vulnerabilities is changing that.
In this video, Carnegie experts break down how subsea cable security is evolving across Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia.