Submarine cables face rising risks from sabotage and accidents

Submarine cables facilitate more than 99% of international data flows, making the undersea network a critical component for global communications and finance. Despite the growth of satellite services like Starlink, the majority of internet traffic remains dependent on these fiber-optic links, which coexist with oil, gas, and power pipelines.

Research by Elisabeth Braw, author of ‘Undersea War’, highlights that between 150 and 200 cables are damaged annually. While approximately 60% of incidents are attributed to human error—primarily fishing and shipping activities such as dragging anchors or nets—there is increasing concern regarding intentional sabotage. Geopolitical tensions and gray-zone warfare have led to heightened scrutiny of suspicious maritime behavior.

Notable incidents include the December 2024 disruption in the Baltic Sea, where the tanker Eagle S was suspected of damaging four telecommunications cables and the EstLink 2 power interconnector. Additionally, in Taiwan, a court sentenced the captain of the Hong Tai 58 to three years in prison following damage to the Taiwan-Penghu No. 3 submarine cable.