Expert Q&A: Undersea Cables Under Attack, from Outside and Within

Reports of damage to undersea cables are increasing, with incidents suggesting foul play. These cables are essential for communication, financial transactions, and intelligence, making them targets for sabotage. Ninety-nine percent of Internet traffic relies on these cables, processing $22 trillion of financial transactions daily. The FCC voted to update U.S. rules on subsea cable development to protect this infrastructure more effectively. The conversation highlights ongoing attacks, both externally and from insider threats, emphasizing the pressing need for better defense strategies among allies.

Ninety-nine percent of our Internet traffic goes through the undersea environment. The capacity of those cables is terabytes of information versus gigabytes of information through satellites.

Undersea cables are crucial conduits for communications, financial transactions, Internet traffic and even intelligence, making them prime targets of gray zone tactics.

$22 trillion of financial transactions are processed through undersea cables every day, highlighting their significance for national security and economic stability.

The Federal Communications Commission aims to update U.S. rules on subsea cable development to streamline construction and enhance protection for this critical infrastructure.

Read at The Cipher Brief