When we use the internet, we rarely think that our data may be traveling thousands of kilometers through fiber-optic cables lying on the ocean floor. Despite the rapid growth of satellite internet services, more than 99% of international data traffic is transmitted through submarine cable systems. These cables form one of the most important foundations of today's digital world.

Today, there are more than 500 active submarine cable systems worldwide, with a combined length exceeding 1.7 million kilometers. They connect continents, data centers, financial markets, and billions of users around the globe. Video calls, streaming services, cloud computing, banking transactions, and international telecommunications all rely on this critical infrastructure.

In recent years, submarine cables have attracted increasing global attention. Several high-profile incidents in the Baltic Sea, where international telecommunications cables were damaged, highlighted the strategic importance of this infrastructure. These events demonstrated how disruptions to submarine cables can affect international communications and reinforce the need to strengthen their protection.

Cable damage is not always the result of deliberate actions. The most common causes include ship anchors, fishing equipment, earthquakes, and other natural events. However, concerns over the potential sabotage of critical digital infrastructure have grown significantly in recent years, prompting governments and international organizations to place greater emphasis on protecting submarine cable networks.

One of the world's largest submarine cable projects is 2Africa, a fiber-optic system stretching approximately 45,000 kilometers. The cable connects Africa with Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and is being developed by a consortium that includes Meta, Vodafone, Orange, and other international partners.

Another notable trend is the growing investment by global technology companies in submarine cable infrastructure. While telecommunications operators traditionally led the development of these networks, companies such as Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are now playing an increasingly important role in financing and building next-generation submarine cable systems.

As the digital economy continues to expand, submarine fiber-optic cables will become even more critical. Despite the rapid development of satellite internet technologies, experts agree that submarine cables will remain the backbone of global internet connectivity and one of the world's most essential digital infrastructures for years to come.

Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), European Commission, 2Africa Project.