The cables powering the internet are under the ocean – and under threat
Governments are deploying advanced monitoring systems to protect the internet's undersea cables
Undersea cable articles
Meta's massive undersea cable project delayed in Persian Gulf as Iran conflict escalates
Contractor ASN says it can no longer operate safely in the region
The world's first transatlantic fiber cable is being pulled off the ocean floor
Before Starlink, there was TAT-8
A cable-cutting device engineered for 13,000 feet? China's got one.
New deep-sea cutting devices spark concerns over internet backbone security
Vodafone is building a new Black Sea cable to link Europe and Asia while bypassing Russia
The €100 million undersea cable will stretch from Bulgaria to Ukraine, Georgia, and Turkey
Finland charges Russian "shadow fleet" tanker crew with dragging anchor to cut undersea cables
Defendants say Finland lacks jurisdiction in case
FCC moves to ban Chinese tech from undersea cables
New rules target Chinese firms over national security fears
A shortage of high-voltage power cables could stall the clean energy transition
A cable crunch is coming, warns NKT CEO Claes Westerlind
China develops deep-sea cable-cutting device with global implications
China claims the underwater tool is only for mining deep ocean resources
New acoustic sensing technology could detect and help prevent undersea cable sabotage
Acoustic sensing is already being used to monitor cables in the North Sea
Meta takes on massive undersea connectivity expansion with new project
A multi-billion, multi-year investment spanning the world's oceans
NATO's HEIST Project moves forward to protect global internet infrastructure
A missile attack exposed the vulnerability of undersea internet cables
Undersea cable disruption in Baltic Sea investigated for possible sabotage
The Finland-Estonia power cable's capacity was severely reduced
NATO wants its own fleet of unmanned drones for naval surveillance
The technology for the program already exists
UN forms international organization to protect undersea internet cables
Security and reliability of submarine cables are paramount in today's connected world
Meta plans to lay down a $10 billion subsea fiber optic cable
The "mother of all submarine cables" will traverse three oceans
Two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea damaged in suspected sabotage
Blame is being directed squarely at Russia
What just happened? Sabotaging undersea internet cables has become a common act of aggression in recent times. Following disruption to two of these cables in the Baltic Sea, including one that appears to have been physically cut, it seems the tactic is once again being employed. And there's no prize for guessing the main suspect.
Russia could target undersea cables and GPS to cripple Western communication, says NATO
Taking the threat very seriously
Tools of disruption: With no viable worldwide alternatives to the undersea cable and GPS networks, the West remains highly vulnerable if Russia opts to leverage these systems as bargaining chips or as a means of sabotage. NATO is taking the threat seriously and is setting up backups as geopolitical tensions with Russia remain high over the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Experts suggest even more needs to be done.
NATO funds project to reroute internet via satellites if undersea cables are cut
The cables are likely targets in the event of a military crisis
A bold plan takes shape to build the world's largest subsea energy interconnector
It would link Europe and North America with 2,000 miles of cables
Google is building the first fiber optic cable connecting Africa and Australia
Called the Umoja cable route, it includes access points that give other countries entry to the network
Google to spend $1 billion to lay two new cables on the Pacific seabed
Improving connectivity and bringing new business opportunities to the Pacific region
Massive internet outage hits West and Central Africa after undersea cables fail
Was sabotage involved?
Yemeni Houthi rebels suspected of damaging underwater Red Sea cables responsible for 17% of global internet traffic
The group previously threatened an attack
Google announces first undersea cable connecting South America and Asia-Pacific
A $400 million investment to create a more direct internet route from Australia to Chile