The world’s digital infrastructure relies heavily on a 750,000-mile network of subsea cables that carry 95% of international data flows between continents. As artificial intelligence systems demand ever-increasing bandwidth for data transmission, these underwater cables have become critical chokepoints in the global economy.
Recent threats and incidents: A series of concerning events has highlighted the vulnerability of subsea cable infrastructure in recent months.
- A Chinese vessel caused significant damage to Baltic cables in November 2024
- A Russian tanker severed a key power cable connecting Finland and Estonia in December 2024
- Multiple cables near Taiwan sustained damage in January 2025, with evidence pointing to Chinese vessel involvement
Strategic implications: The growing dependence on subsea cables for AI-driven data transmission creates unprecedented economic and security risks.
- Cable disruptions can trigger widespread internet outages affecting multiple countries
- Damaged cables provide opportunities for surveillance and data interception
- Repair costs typically range in the millions of dollars and can take weeks to complete
- The concentration of critical infrastructure in predictable undersea corridors makes cables vulnerable to targeted attacks
Geopolitical dynamics: Competition over subsea cable infrastructure has intensified as nations seek to control digital pathways.
- Western nations are actively working to exclude Chinese companies from cable projects
- China has developed independent capabilities in subsea cable technology
- The lack of international protocols for protecting subsea infrastructure has created a regulatory vacuum
- Regional tensions, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, have increased risks to cable security
Protective measures: Stakeholders are implementing various strategies to safeguard subsea cable networks.
- Deployment of AI-powered underwater monitoring systems to detect threats
- Increased naval patrols along major cable routes
- Installation of redundant cable pathways to ensure network resilience
- Development of satellite-based alternatives for critical communications
- Streamlined regulatory processes to accelerate cable repairs
Looking ahead: Strategic vulnerabilities remain: While protective measures are being implemented, the fundamental vulnerability of concentrated subsea infrastructure continues to pose risks to the AI economy.
- The absence of comprehensive backup systems means localized damage can have global ripple effects
- Growing geopolitical tensions increase the likelihood of intentional cable disruption as a strategic tool
- The race to deploy protective technologies may not keep pace with evolving threats to subsea infrastructure
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...