Underwater Internet Cables Face New Threats from Iran and Russia

There are about 600 submarine cables around the world. They stretch for more than 1.5 million kilometers under the oceans. Special ships lay these cables on the ocean floor. The ships carefully map the ocean bottom before placing the cables there.

Some of the most important cables run through narrow areas like the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. These areas are like bottlenecks for internet traffic. If something happens to cables in these spots, it affects internet service for millions of people. Iran has threatened to charge taxes on cables that go through the Strait of Hormuz.

Russia has also been causing worry with its submarine activities. In April, three Russian submarines were spotted near internet cables in waters north of the United Kingdom. The submarines did not damage any cables, but it showed they could if they wanted to. The UK has now made new laws to punish anyone who damages these cables on purpose.

China has been accused of attacking cables near Taiwan. Taiwan only has 24 cables connecting it to the world, so any damage could be very serious. If these cables were cut, Taiwan could lose much of its internet connection. This shows how vulnerable small islands and countries can be.

When cables get damaged, the internet doesn't just stop working completely. Instead, information has to travel through other cables, which makes everything much slower. Websites take longer to load, messages take more time to send, and online payments might not work properly. Important services like hospitals and banks can have serious problems.

Most cable damage happens by accident, not on purpose. Fishing nets and ship anchors often cut cables by mistake. In 2024, a ship called the Rubymar was attacked in the Red Sea and its anchor cut four important cables. This accident affected 25 percent of internet traffic between Asia and Europe.