The protection of submarine telecommunications cables
digital sovereignty and submarine cable network security
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46661/revintpensampolit.8753Keywords:
submarine cables, critical infrastructure, national security, digital sovereignityAbstract
The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in October 2022 has magnified the vulnerability and critical importance of subsea infrastructure. It has also highlighted the lack of understanding of how subsea networks work, how they are regulated, who controls them and how they are protected. The conflict in Ukraine has amplified tensions in this context in terms of the growing threat of hybrid warfare/grey zone activity. This article will analyse the context and bodies involved in the governance of submarine cables and identify gaps in this protection, with a focus on the actions of cable actors such as the European Union and other initiatives within the framework of China’s Silk Road.
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