Recorded Future underlines threats to submarine telecommunication cables, such as the risk of intentional sabotage and spying by nation-state threat actors.

Submarine cables, the backbone of the global economy and telecommunications, are operating in an increasingly risky environment and are prone to geopolitical, physical, and cyber threats, including nation-state sabotage and spying, intelligence company Recorded Future says.

Fiber-optic submarine cables on the ocean floor transmit an estimated 99% of all intercontinental internet traffic and communications, including roughly $10 trillion of financial transactions daily and sensitive government and military communication, making them attractive targets for intelligence collection and sabotage.

The number of undersea cables has doubled over the past decade, reaching an estimated 529 cable systems in operation today, and their capacity is likely to increase, to meet the growing number of users and devices requiring internet connectivity.

In terms of intentional sabotage and spying, state-sponsored groups should be regarded as the greatest threat to submarine cables, especially with an increasing number of Chinese-owned companies operating cables, and with Russia interested in mapping the submarine cable system, very “likely for potential sabotage or disruption”, Recorded Future’s report (PDF) points out.

“Major geopolitical developments, specifically Russia’s war against Ukraine, China’s increasing coercive actions toward, and preparations for, a potential forceful unification with Taiwan, as well as the deepening rift between Beijing and Washington, will very likely be key drivers of the near-term risk environment,” Recorded Future notes.

https://go.recordedfuture.com/hubfs/reports/ta-2023-0627.pdf