The modern world heavily relies on the internet, facilitated by an extensive network of submarine cables that connect continents and move 98% of internet traffic. These cables are crucial for various aspects of life, including work, communication, and commerce. Geopolitically, the control and installation of these cables have become significant, with examples like the United States actively limiting cable installations to certain countries.
Major technology companies, such as Google and Facebook, invest in submarine cables to ensure efficient data transfer. Private tech companies now lead in submarine cable investment, surpassing governments and traditional communication companies. For instance, Google's Equiano cable connecting Africa and Europe represents a billion-dollar investment.
The process of laying submarine cables involves massive ships equipped with tanks for cable storage. These cables, protected from external threats like sharks, play a pivotal role in global connectivity. Disruptions, such as cable breaks, can lead to widespread internet outages, impacting entire regions.
The geopolitical aspect of submarine cables is evident in conflicts between countries like China and the United States. The Shinywei6 cable, connecting Singapore with the Middle East and France, became a focal point of tension. The United States used diplomatic influence to deter companies from using Chinese-made cables due to concerns about potential sanctions.
Submarine cables are vulnerable to physical damage, intentional or accidental. Incidents like cable cuts by Russian fishing boats or potential espionage activities highlight the security challenges. Governments actively engage in strategies to secure and control these critical communication infrastructures.
In the event of a conflict, submarine cables become strategic targets for disruption. War games have simulated attacks on these cables to hamper communication and create chaos. The potential use of submarine cable disruptions as a tactic in conflicts is a concerning reality.
Taiwan, in particular, faces threats to its internet connectivity as tensions rise with China. Chinese ships cutting internet cables leading to Taiwan highlight the potential weaponization of submarine cable infrastructure.
The importance of submarine cables is not only technological but also geopolitical, influencing trade, security, and global power dynamics. The United States and other major powers actively shape the landscape of submarine cable installations, considering both economic and security interests. As technology evolves, satellite connectivity, exemplified by SpaceX's Starlink, introduces new dynamics to the traditional dominance of submarine cables.
1. Modern humanity heavily depends on the internet for various activities such as ordering food, hailing rides, and work.
2. The internet's infrastructure primarily works through submarine cables, which connect continents.
3. Submarine cables move 98% of internet traffic at speeds up to two-thirds the speed of light.
4. The submarine cable network is a significant geopolitical issue, with certain countries controlling a large portion of it.
5. A specific example of this is the submarine cable that connects Latin America with the United States and the Caribbean, with almost no cables connected to Cuba.
6. The United States government has actively stopped the installation of new cables, and Cuba's internet traffic is largely moved through a specific cable connecting Cuba with Venezuela and Jamaica.
7. Large technology companies like Meta, Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Netflix play a significant role in the internet, consuming a large portion of the bandwidth used by submarine cables.
8. Submarine cables are primarily laid by four companies: HMN Tech from China, Alcatel Submarine Networks from France, SubCom from the United States, and NEC Corporation from Japan.
9. France and the United States have installed the most cables, followed by China.
10. Huawei Marín Networks, a company from China, has been a subject of controversy due to allegations of using its 5G networks for spying for China.
11. The United States has blocked Huawei from doing business with the United States and Canada, leading to a trade war.
12. The United States has deployed political force and soft diplomatic power projection to block Huawei.
13. Submarine cables can be targeted in times of war, causing sudden losses of connectivity.
14. China's control of submarine cables is a strategic move, as it allows the country to control information and maintain its authoritarian dictatorship.
15. China has been accused of spying on underwater cables, posing a significant threat to global internet security.
16. Taiwan has suspected that Chinese ships cut its internet cables, raising concerns about a potential conflict with China.
17. The United States has met with ambassadors and diplomats in countries where strategic cables pass, urging them to choose US companies over Huawei to improve trade cooperation and security with the United States.
18. The United States has warned that Huawei Marín Networks may be subject to future sanctions, which would make it difficult for communications companies to sell the bandwidth they are waiting to buy.
19. The United States has used secret submarines like the Ginny Carter to spy on submarine cables.
20. The rise of satellite connectivity through companies like SpaceX has changed the landscape of internet connectivity, reducing the dependence on cables.
21. Large-scale projects are underway to send electricity through submarine cables, such as the Song Cable project between Singapore and Australia, and the Antipodes project in Chile.
22. The control of the flow of the internet and the submarine cables it uses is a key battleground in the war between a free internet and a controlled one.