Redazione RHC : 28 August 2025 20:54
Researchers from Reichman University (Israel) have detailed in an article in the journal Nature Electronics the growing risks and threats posed by natural and man-made factors to undersea communications cables, which form the backbone of the global internet infrastructure and transmit over 95% of international data traffic.
Among the examples they cited are a volcanic eruption in 2022 that caused a tsunami and underwater shock waves that severed the fiber-optic link between the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Fiji, plunging the island nation into digital isolation.
Over the past year and a half, several new incidents have highlighted the vulnerability of cable infrastructure. Subsea trunk lines in the Red Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Pacific Ocean have been damaged,in some cases likely intentionally.
Damage to main cables caused by anchors or deep-sea trawls frequently causes disruptions, and the growing tendency for targeted damage increases the risk of intentional shutdowns with serious consequences. The article presents scientifically sound recommendations for modernizing the global communications infrastructure, based on three alternative systems capable of reducing dependence on the vulnerability of submarine cables.
The first option is satellite networks for laser communications. Satellite constellations in low Earth orbit have already been created as part of NASA projects and the Starlink system. They can provide data transfer speeds comparable to fiber optics, without seismic or geopolitical risks. Advances in adaptive optics and high-speed intersatellite communication channels make it possible to effectively counter the effects of atmospheric interference.
The second solution is represented by high-altitude aerial platforms based on solar-powered drones and stratospheric airships. Developments in this field are not yet complete, but prototypes have demonstrated that such platforms can provide a flexible and resilient internet infrastructure.
A third approach involves the creation of autonomous underwater optical wireless networks based on multiple robotic vehicles equipped with blue-green lasers that form a dynamic network of short-range optical communication channels. Such systems can provide critical redundancy for operational cables. They hold particular promise for military applications, deep-sea energy, and environmental monitoring.
But cable redundancy alone is not enough to counter 21st-century threats, from geological disasters to geopolitical conflicts. A true diversification of the global digital infrastructure is needed, the study authors argue.
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