Undersea Cables: The Invisible Infrastructure Powering the Digital World

Every day, billions of people around the world send emails, participate in video conferences, stream content, use search engines, and carry out financial transactions online — often without considering the complex infrastructure that makes these activities possible.

Beneath the oceans lies a vast network of submarine cables silently connecting continents and powering the global digital economy.

According to Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), undersea cables have become the backbone of global digital connectivity and modern communication systems.

“About 99 per cent of international internet traffic travels through submarine cables,” he explained. “Even this conversation is being carried through these cables.”

While many people are familiar with visible technologies such as mobile networks, satellites, and broadband internet, few recognize that these systems depend heavily on an extensive underwater cable network often referred to as the world’s “digital highways.”

The Backbone of Global Communication

These submarine cables consist of fibre-optic wires laid hundreds of metres beneath the ocean surface by specialised cable-laying ships. They connect landing stations across continents, enabling the rapid transfer of enormous amounts of data worldwide.

From international banking transactions to cloud computing, online education, emergency communication systems, and digital healthcare services, the global economy depends heavily on these underwater networks.

Today, more than 500 commercial submarine cables span the oceans, stretching approximately 1.7 million kilometres — long enough to circle the Earth multiple times.

Though relatively thin, often no wider than a garden hose, these cables carry hundreds of terabits of information every second across countries and continents.

Growing Importance of Digital Resilience

As societies become increasingly dependent on digital technology, global concerns are growing over the resilience and protection of submarine cable infrastructure.

This issue is expected to take centre stage at the Second International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit scheduled to hold in Porto, Portugal.

Experts warn that damage to undersea cables — whether caused by natural disasters, climate-related incidents, accidents, or sabotage — could disrupt financial systems, communication networks, emergency services, and global internet access.

For organisations like the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), the conversation highlights the urgent need for stronger international cooperation, digital resilience, and early warning systems to protect critical global infrastructure.

A Technology With Deep Historical Roots

The concept of underwater communication is not new. In 1850, England and France were connected for the first time through an undersea telegraph cable.

Since then, technology has evolved significantly — from telegraph systems to telephone communication and now high-speed fibre-optic internet networks capable of transmitting massive volumes of data almost instantly.

Before cables are laid, experts carefully survey the ocean floor to identify safer routes that minimise environmental impact and reduce risks. Specialised ships then deploy massive reels of fibre-optic cable along the seabed.

Protecting the Future of Global Connectivity

As digital dependence continues to expand worldwide, the protection and resilience of submarine cable infrastructure are becoming increasingly critical to global stability, economic growth, and international communication.

The United Nations and global stakeholders continue to emphasise the importance of collective strategies to strengthen these systems against emerging threats and disruptions.

For IAWPA, promoting awareness around digital infrastructure resilience aligns with broader efforts to encourage peace, sustainable development, technological cooperation, and global preparedness in an increasingly interconnected world.