24/04/2025

Subsea fiber-optic cables form the backbone of global digital infrastructure, carrying over 99% of intercontinental data traffic, yet despite their critical importance, they have received limited attention in national and international policy frameworks. A new report by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) addresses this gap through a detailed analysis of various approaches to designating and protecting undersea cables as critical infrastructures. The recently published report "Achieving Depth: Submarine Telecommunications Cables as Critical Infrastructure" was written by ATHENE researcher Jonas Franken (PEASEC/TU Darmstadt) in collaboration with Dr. Camino Kavanagh (King's College London) and Wenting He (UNIDIR).

Drawing on extensive case studies, interviews with policymakers and industry experts, and current academic literature, the authors develop a conceptual framework based on resilience capacities: absorptive (prevention and robustness), restorative (response and recovery), and adaptive (learning and evolving). In the 88-page publication they examine how states are aligning infrastructure security and resilience with broader societal and strategic objectives, including digital transformation, economic development, and maritime security.

The full report is available through the UNIDIR-Website and provides valuable insights for policymakers, security experts, and anyone concerned with the security of critical digital infrastructures.

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