Undersea cables face rising cyber and geopolitical risks

A significant gap exists between the global reliance on undersea fiber-optic cables and the level of cyber risk planning for them. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, 99 per cent of international data traffic travels through cables on the seabed, yet only 18 per cent of organizations include this dependence in their cyber risk mitigation strategies.

Geopolitical tensions further heighten these vulnerabilities. Iranian security officials have reportedly discussed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf, specifically mentioning seven major cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz, should military strikes against Iran resume. Such actions could disrupt regional internet connectivity, banking, cloud computing, and e-commerce.

While the Strait of Hormuz accounts for less than one per cent of total international bandwidth, disruptions could severely impact Gulf networks. Furthermore, the International Telecommunication Union notes that these undersea systems are essential lifelines for the global economy, and any damage could be difficult to repair if specialized vessels cannot safely access territorial waters during conflicts.