UN forms international organization to protect undersea internet cables
Overview: The International Telecommunication Union, a specialized agency of the United Nations, oversees global information and communication technologies. In addition to promoting and developing technology standards, the organization has announced plans to collaborate with industry representatives to safeguard
The ITU recently announced the formation of a new UN-affiliated agency, the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience. The organization is tasked with enhancing the resilience of submarine communication cables, a critical component of global telecommunications infrastructure.
Such cables carry the majority of internet traffic worldwide. ITU emphasized their importance for industries and essential services like commerce, finance, government operations, digital health, and education. Recognizing the cables’ significance, the UN has adopted a more proactive approach to safeguard this vital infrastructure.
The International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience will focus on several key tasks. These include exploring strategies to bolster cable resilience, promoting best practices among governments and industry stakeholders, facilitating timely repairs to damaged cables, minimizing risks of future damage, and ensuring uninterrupted communication through these essential networks.
Submarine telecom cables handle over 99 percent of international digital data exchange, according to the ITU. As one of the most critical infrastructures in today’s interconnected world, these undersea cables are exposed to numerous vulnerabilities, including natural disasters, aging infrastructure, and human activities such as fishing and anchoring.
While the ITU refrains from addressing politically sensitive issues like alleged sabotage by adversarial nations such as Russia and China – recently a topic of widespread speculation online – it notes that over 200 cable repairs were reported globally in 2023 alone. This translates to an average of more than three incidents per week.
The International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience, supported by the International Cable Protection Committee trade organization, aims to foster multistakeholder dialogue. This dialogue will include government authorities, regulatory agencies, technical experts, and private industry players. With the reliability of undersea cables underpinning the world’s digital economy, the organization emphasizes that collective efforts are crucial for protecting and enhancing this vital infrastructure.
