Threats to global internet cables

Underwater cables play a crucial role in transmitting the vast majority of international internet traffic, far exceeding that of mobile, satellite, and fixed-line internet networks.

According to BGR , submarine cables are essentially the foundation of global internet communications. When one of these cables fails, the consequences can be far more serious than typical Wi-Fi problems and cause disruptions for millions of people worldwide .

A large portion of the global internet is powered by underwater cable systems.

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT FROM BGR

Underwater cable breaks are not uncommon.

The primary causes of cable breaks stem from a variety of factors, including earthquakes, underwater landslides, sabotage, or maritime activities such as commercial fishing and improper anchoring. According to estimates by the International Cable Protection Commission (ICPC), approximately 30% of annual submarine cable damage incidents, or about 60 incidents, are due to dragging by anchors. An ICPC report from 2011 indicated this as the leading cause of cable damage, far exceeding previous predictions.

Incidents involving ship anchors vary widely, from direct collisions and dragging along the seabed to unintentional or intentional anchoring in bad weather. Notably, there have been reports of deliberate sabotage on submarine cables in the North Atlantic-Baltic and Western Pacific regions.

According to the ICPC, approximately 1.7 million kilometers of undersea cables experience between 150 and 200 incidents each year. Despite the increasing number of cables, the number of incidents remains stable, with 70-80% stemming from human activity.

What will happen to the internet if underwater cables are broken or damaged?

When a cable is cut, the incident often leads to disruptions or slowdowns in internet connection speeds. However, thanks to backup cable routes, communication can still be maintained in many cases, although speeds may be affected.

Anchors are believed to account for approximately 30% of submarine cable breakage incidents.

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT FROM BGR

To address a damaged underwater cable, underwater vehicles such as submarines and ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) are used to locate and repair it. Repairing underwater cables is very expensive, potentially costing between $500,000 and $1 million per incident for optical telecommunications cables.

Submarine cables remain the primary source for telecommunications, and more are likely to be installed in the future, especially with the development of new data technologies. While the advent of quantum data transfer promises extremely high speeds over fiber optics, at this stage, internet access in many countries around the world still depends on the conditions on the seabed.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/moi-de-doa-voi-cap-internet-toan-cau-185260310004346322.htm