Key Highlights
- Submarine cables carry 99% of global internet traffic.
- Damage to cables can disrupt entire countries' connectivity.
- The world faces challenges in cable repair and maintenance.
The Invisible Infrastructure Powering the Internet
The modern internet is often associated with satellites, wireless networks, mobile phones, and enormous data centers. However, one of its most important components is largely hidden from public view. Submarine telecommunications cables are fiber-optic systems laid across the seabed, connecting countries and continents through physical networks that carry enormous quantities of digital information.
These cables transmit data using pulses of light traveling through extremely thin optical fibers. Information is converted into light signals, transmitted across long distances, and converted back into electronic data when it reaches its destination. This technology allows vast quantities of information to travel between continents at extraordinary speeds.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), submarine cables carry approximately 99% of the world's international internet traffic. They support international communications, financial transactions, cloud computing, and government services. The network is extensive. The European Commission's Joint Research Centre reported in August 2025 that more than 400 active submarine cables stretched across the world's oceans, forming a network exceeding 1.3 million kilometers. These connections are essential to the functioning of the digital economy.
When someone in London sends money to a business in Singapore, accesses a website hosted in the United States, or communicates with someone in Australia, international data may travel through multiple submarine cable systems. The internet may appear wireless to consumers, but its international foundations are overwhelmingly physical.
Why a Damaged Cable Can Affect Entire Countries
One of the biggest misconceptions about the internet is that information can always find another route if a connection fails. Although international networks are designed with alternative pathways, not every country has the same level of connectivity. Some nations have access to numerous submarine cable systems, while others depend heavily on a small number of connections.
If several cables serving the same region are damaged, internet providers may struggle to redirect traffic through alternative routes. This can produce slower internet speeds, increased latency, disrupted communications, and interruptions to business services. The impact can extend beyond ordinary internet users. Financial institutions rely on international connectivity to communicate with counterparties, process transactions, and access overseas markets. Cloud computing providers need reliable connections between data centers. Airlines, shipping companies, and government agencies also depend on international networks. A serious disruption could therefore affect multiple industries simultaneously.
The problem is particularly significant for countries with limited alternative infrastructure. In May 2024, damage to the SEACOM and EASSy submarine cable systems disrupted connectivity across parts of East Africa. Different countries experienced varying levels of disruption depending on their alternative connections and ability to reroute traffic. Recorded Future's analysis of cable damage during 2024 and 2025 identified three particularly important risk factors: insufficient network redundancy, limited route diversity, and restricted global repair capacity. In other words, the greatest danger is not necessarily the loss of one cable; it is the possibility that several connections fail in a region that has few alternatives.
The World Has a Cable Repair Problem
Submarine cables are designed to operate for decades, but they are not indestructible. They can be damaged by fishing equipment, ship anchors, underwater landslides, earthquakes, and other geological events. In shallower waters, cables may be buried beneath the seabed or protected with additional armor. In deeper waters, they are often laid directly on the ocean floor. Even with these precautions, damage remains relatively common.
The ITU reported in April 2026 that more than 170 cable repairs were recorded worldwide during 2025. That represents almost four repairs per week, highlighting the ongoing challenges in maintaining this critical infrastructure. As the demand for internet connectivity continues to grow, ensuring the resilience and security of submarine cables will be paramount for global communications.
Published by Banx Network. This article is part of the Banx decentralized media programme, powered by the BXE token on the XRP Ledger.
