Security Risks for Submarine Cables
Protecting the digital lifelines of the modern world
The global submarine data cable network carries over 99% of the world's digital communications, making it the critical infrastructure of our networked society. Due to their hidden location on the seabed, submarine cables have historically been neglected in risk assessments, despite their enormous importance. It was only in the wake of geopolitical tensions such as the war in Ukraine that they received increased attention. In groundbreaking studies, Prof. Christian Reuter and Jonas Franken analyse current threat scenarios and potential attackers against this critical infrastructure.
ATHENE projects and contributions from its "Security Risks for Submarine Cables" think tank
ATHENE Research Area "Secure Urban Infrastructures (SecUrban)"
Information and communication technologies (ICT) are at the heart of smart, connected urban infrastructures. The availability of ICT for critical infrastructures such as energy, water, transport or health requires secure and resilient operation. ATHENE's Secure Urban Infrastructures (SecUrban) research area aims to integrate data, information and infrastructure security and to empower urban stakeholders for practical operations and security incidents.
publications of the research area SECURBAN
Report of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR): "Achieving Depth: Subsea Telecommunications Cables as Critical Infrastructure", 2025
Authors: Camino Kavanagh, Jonas Franken, Wenting He
to the report
Study "Hidden structures of a global infrastructure: Expansion factors of the subsea data cable network", June 2025
Authors: Jonas Franken, Thomas Reinhod, Timon Dörnfeld, Christian Reuter
to the study
Doctoral Thesis of Philipp Kühn "Proactive Cyber Threat Intelligence: Automating the Intelligence Life Cycle based on Open Sources", Defence 26.05.2025
More information
Report in the FAZ " Schatten auf hoher See", 01.03.2025
with Jonas Franken
to the report (paywall)
Contribution in the programme 10 vor 10 "Nato: Kampf gegen die russische Schattenflotte" of the Schweizer Rundfunks, 14.01.2025
with Jonas Franken
to the programme
Podcast "Lebensader des Internets: Wie schützt man Unterseekabel?" of News Plus of the Schweizer Rundfunks, 13.01.2025
with Jonas Franken
to the podcast
Interview in the WELT: “Fast täglich fällt irgendwo ein Kabel aus”, 11.12.2024
with Jonas Franken
to the interview (Paywall)
Study "The Subsea Data Cable Security Map – Fusing Public Information for Enhanced Critical Maritime Infrastructure Security", published at MARESEC 2024
Authors: Jonas Franken, Christian Reuter
to the study
Discussion group on the EU's submarine cable recommendation organised by PEASEC and the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), 20.06.2024
under the direction of Prof. Christian Reuter
more information
Report in the Handelsblatt "Nach Nord-Stream-Attacke: Wie Deutschland seine maritime Infrastruktur mit Hightech schützen will", 29.10.2022
with Jonas Franken
to the report (paywall)
Study in the International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection "The digital divide in state vulnerability to submarine communications cable failure", 09/2022
Authors: Jonas Franken, Thomas Reinhold, Lilian Reichert, Christian Reuter
to the study
Study on behalf of the European Parliament "Security threats to undersea communications cables and infrastructure – consequences for the EU", 01.06.2022
Authors: Christian Büger, Tobias Liebetrau, Jonas Franken
to the study
Contact
Prof. Christian Reuter
Science and Technology for Peace and Security
Tel.: +49 6151 16-20941
E-Mail
