Submarine internet cables, also referred to as submarine communications cables or submarine fiber optic cables, connect different locations and data centres to reliably exchange digital information at a high speed.
They are significant providers of internet connection globally: 99% of international communications go through submarine fibre optic cables, as well as US$10 trillion of financial transactions every day. The European Union (EU), in particular, has a strong need for connection, since 87% of EU citizens were internet users in 2021.
Network description
External network
In May 2023, the EU has direct connections with: North America: 9 undersea cables (Dunant, MAREA, Apollo, Grace Hopper, FLAG Atlantic-1, AC-1, AEC-1, AEC-2, EXA Express, EXA North and South). 1 is being installed (Amitié). South and East Asia: 8 undersea cables (PEACE, AAE-1, SeaMeWe-3, SeaMeWe-4, SeaMeWe-5, IMEWE, Europe India Gateway, FEA). 4 are being installed (SeaMeWe-6, Africa-1, 2Africa, IEX). MENA region: 27 undersea cables. All cables going to Asia are also connected to the MENA region. Other cables are TE North, MedNautilus Submarine system, Hawk, ORVAL, Estepona-Tetouan, Atlas Offshore, Canalink, EllaLink, Med Cable Network, Trapani-Kelibia, Didon, HANNIBAL system, Italy-Libya, Silphium, UGARIT, Turcyos-1, Turcyos-2, CADMOS, KAFOS. 3 are being installed (Blue, Medusa submarine cable system, CADMOS-2). West, Eastern and South Africa: 5 undersea cables (SAT-3, MainOne, ACE, Equiano, PEACE). 2 are being installed (2Africa, Africa-1). South America: 1 undersea cable (EllaLink). Oceania: 1 undersea cable (SeaMeWe-3).
The EU is also highly connected to the United Kingdom (UK), as 23 undersea cables connect the two. In 2016, the EU lost a considerable number of connections because of Brexit, especially with North America. However, it does not represent a danger to EU connectivity, because there is a strong collaboration and the EU infrastructure remains able to do without the UK.
Internal network
In May 2023, the EU has 39 undersea cables that connect Member States exclusively. 3 are being installed (Digital E4, Eastern Light Sweden-Finland II, Ionian). These cables mostly connect Island States (such as Malta) or States around the Baltic Sea.
Cables in Northern Europe (31): COBRAcable, GlobalConnect 2, Kattegat 2, Denmark-Sweden 16, Denmark-Sweden 17, Denmark-Sweden 18, Scandinavian Ring North, Scandinavian Ring South, Danica North, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Baltica, NordBalt, Latvia-Sweden 1, Sweden-Latvia, Baltic Sea Submarine cable, Eastern Light Sweden-Finland I, BCS North-Phase 1, Sweden-Finland 4, Sweden-Finland Link, Sweden-Estonia, C-Lion1, Finland-Estonia 2, Finland-Estonia 3, Finland-Estonia connection, Botnia, BCS East, BCS East-West interlink, Denmark-Poland 2, Germany-Denmark 3, GlobalConnect-KPN, Fehmarn Bält. Cables in Southern Europe (8): Malta-Italy interconnector, Melita 1, Epic Malta-Sicily Cable System, Italy-Malta, GO-1 mediterranean cable system, Italy-Greece 1, OTEGlobe Kokkini-Bari, Italy-Croatia.
Status
International law
The law ruling submarine internet cables is UNCLOS. The creation of the internet and of the physical infrastructure that underlies it only happened in 1986, after UNCLOS was signed, but the research had been progressing in the 1970s, pushing the industry to give an interest in this framework's elaboration. Laying cables is part of the freedom of the seas (article 87). It is therefore authorized everywhere except in territorial waters, where coastal States edict their own rules. It is assumed that this freedom also applies to maintaining and repairing cables. However, States that would like to lay a cable must do it in consideration to other infrastructure that might be already installed. In addition, if it is in another State's EEZ, it must take into consideration the exclusive rights the coastal State possesses in this zone (economic resources, etc.) (article 79).
Submarine internet cables are privately owned, mostly by telecommunications companies. However, tech companies have started investing in the cable business as well (such as Meta and Google). Most cables are owned and managed by consortiums of companies. In UNCLOS, owners are liable for damages that could happen to the cables (article 114). These regulations only apply to nationals. They must also be able to compensate ships and fishermen in cases where they would have damaged their fishing gear or anchor to avoid hurting submarine cables (article 115). Finally, States have the obligation of making damages to submarine internet cables a punishable offence (article 113), except if it is unavoidable with lives or ships at stake.