Our digital society relies on a fragile artery: undersea cables. These true information highways are nevertheless exposed to growing threats.
A recent study highlights the systemic vulnerability of this critical infrastructure. It calls for an urgent diversification of telecommunication methods to secure our global exchanges.
World map of undersea communication cables in 2015.
Image Wikimedia A critical dependency with multiple risks
Undersea cables carry more than 95% of international data traffic. Their rupture can digitally isolate an entire country, as happened in Tonga in 2022. Undersea earthquakes regularly cause major outages; these natural incidents reveal an intrinsic fragility.
Human activities represent another source of danger. Ship anchors and deep-sea fishing frequently damage these conduits. Targeted acts of sabotage are also observed in certain strategic areas, such as recently in the Red Sea and the Baltic Sea.
This convergence of natural and human risks worries experts. The concentration of traffic on a few choke points creates bottlenecks: a coordinated attack could have catastrophic economic consequences. Global digital security requires a more resilient approach.
Toward infrastructure diversification
The solution lies in developing complementary technologies. Low Earth orbit satellite constellations offer a promising alternative; the Starlink project already demonstrates the viability of this approach. These systems escape the hazards of the seabed.
Stratospheric platforms represent an innovative path. These solar-powered drones would provide internet coverage in remote areas and serve as temporary relays during natural disasters. Their deployment remains experimental.
Wireless undersea networks are also under study: autonomous vehicles equipped with lasers would form communication meshes. This technology would particularly benefit military and scientific applications, though it requires significant technical development.
To go further: What are the geopolitical stakes of undersea cables?
The routing of undersea cables constitutes an element of power and influence for nearby states. Even though these infrastructures carefully avoid conflict zones and disputed territorial waters, control of these strategic passage points offers considerable geopolitical advantage.
Ownership of these digital arteries also raises questions of sovereignty. Although mostly owned by international private consortia, states seek to monitor their operation. Some countries require that cables landing on their territory pass through specific points, with surveillance enabling control over incoming and outgoing data flows.
Protecting these infrastructures has become a major national security issue. Military ships sometimes patrol near critical routes to deter any attack. The ability to quickly repair a damaged cable is also a marker of maritime power.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND