Submarine Cable Cuts: ITU, ICPC Move to Fortify Cable Networks with International Advisory Body

Emma Okonji

Following incessant submarine cable cuts and damages in the deep sea, which usually disrupt connectivity across all sectors of the global economy, including banking and telecommunications, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Agency for Digital Technologies, and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), the leading industry organisation promoting submarine cable protection, have launched the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience to strengthen the resilience of vital telecommunication infrastructure.

The Advisory Body is co-chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Communications Authority of the Republic of Portugal, Prof. Sandra Maximiano.

Submarine telecommunication cables form the backbone of global communications, carrying most of the world’s internet traffic and enabling critical services across the globe, including commerce, financial transactions, government activities, digital health and education.

The advisory body will address ways to improve cable resilience by promoting best practices for governments and industry players to ensure the timely deployment and repair of submarine cables, reduce the risks of damage, and enhance the continuity of communications over the cables.

Damages to global submarine cables have been on the rise, with an average of 150 to 200 faults occurring globally each year and requiring about three cable repairs per week, according to the ICPC.

The primary causes of damage include accidental human activity, such as fishing and anchoring, alongside natural hazards, abrasion and equipment failure.

On March 14, 2024, 13 African countries witnessed internet disruptions, which led to operational downtime for all businesses connected to the internet, including banks, where bank customers could not carry out banking transactions for hours.

The disruptions were caused by multiple cuts in the submarine cable around the coast line of Senegal and Cote d’ Ivoire, a development that disconnected Internet Service Providers (ISPs), as well as broadband connectivity providers from the internet and from the broadband connections, as they could not provide connectivity access to their customers in banks, schools, churches, mosques, business centres, call centres, as well as to organisations across different sectors of the economy.

Considering the effect of the cable cut, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator had called for a coordinated and multilateral approach by the region to protect shared telecommunications infrastructure, and diversify connectivity to ensure uninterruptible connections.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, made the submission in a statement delivered at the 21st West Africa Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly (WATRA) Annual General Meeting (AGM), which held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from the 19th to 22nd March 2024.

Maida, who was represented at the WATRA AGM by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the commission, Nnenna Ukoha, had stated that the submarine cable cuts that resulted in nationwide outages on multiple networks in 13 African countries, raised the urgent need for the sub-region to establish a mechanism to protect itself from damage to submarine infrastructure and its attendant impact on the sub-region.

Speaking at the launch of the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, said: “Submarine cables carry over 99 per cent of international data exchanges, making their resilience a global imperative. The Advisory Body will mobilise expertise from around the world to ensure this vital digital infrastructure remains resilient in the face of disasters, accidents, and other risks.”

ICPC Chair, Graham Evans, said: “The formation of this International Advisory Body with ITU marks another step toward safeguarding our global digital infrastructure. By working together, we can promote best practices, foster international collaboration, and create a consistent approach to protect the vital submarine cable networks that underpin global connectivity.”

According to Tijani, “Submarine cables are essential to the functioning of our connected world, but they face risks that require coordinated, proactive action. We are happy to host the inaugural Submarine Cable Resilience Summit to be held in Nigeria in early 2025.”

“This initiative underscores the global community’s commitment to strengthening these networks and advancing international cooperation for digital resilience,” Maximiano said.

The advisory body is made up of 40 members, which include Ministers, Heads of Regulatory Authorities, industry executives, and senior experts on the operations of telecommunication cables.

Members were selected from all world regions, ensuring diversity and inclusion from countries ranging from small island states to major economies. The membership captures the perspectives of those whose livelihoods and digital futures depend on the operation of submarine telecommunication cables, as well as those who work to deploy, maintain and protect submarine cables.

The advisory body will meet at least two times a year. It will consult with experts on telecommunications, digital resilience infrastructure development, infrastructure investment and international policy to provide strategic guidance and encourage sector-wide collaboration.

The first virtual meeting is scheduled for December 2024, while the first physical meeting is scheduled to take place during the Submarine Cable Resilience Summit, planned for late February 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria.​