Session
Digital Connectivity Under Threat: Attacks on Undersea Cables and Countermeasures
Time- 10:20 ~ 11:50
Organization- The Sejong Institute
Room- 203
Subject- Diplomacy / Security
Speaker
One of the key features emphasized in the Indo-Pacific strategies of so-called "like-minded democratic countries" is the term 'connectivity'. This term reflects not only the enlargement of physical connections among onshore and offshore countries in the region but also the growing interconnectedness in the digital realm.
In this context, digital networks based on undersea cables have assumed strategic importance. In the Indo-Pacific region, over 95% of international data traffic is carried by these undersea cables. This indicates that a vision of "a free and open Indo-Pacific" can only be realized if the protection of these cables is securely ensured. This vision heavily relies on continuous communication and information-sharing based on established networks and connectivity in the region.
Given the significance of undersea cables, safeguarding them is vital for national security. However, they are susceptible to various severe threats. Any physical damage to the submarine cable infrastructure can lead to considerable economic losses for the allied industries of the involved countries, resulting in disruption in, and even paralysis of, inter-country information networks.
Undersea cables face threats from natural incidents and deliberate sabotage, aimed at data theft, intelligence gathering, or disrupting data flows. Often, these attacks are orchestrated by nation-states as part of hybrid warfare, intending to sever the military communication of an opposing nation. Moreover, some attacks are driven by state-sponsored entities with the aim of causing cable malfunctions, manipulating data flows, or increasing data dependence among nation-states in the region.
Given the intensifying geopolitical competition, we cannot overlook the possibility that attacks on undersea cables might be used as tools for crisis escalation, not merely for the direct benefits of the attack itself. By severing or disrupting the digital connectivity of countries in the region, geopolitical tensions can arise, leading to deeper fragmentation. The proposed session focuses on the growing significance of digital connectivity and the associated security implications. The session seeks insights from maritime experts and academics in the Indo-Pacific region regarding the aforementioned threat scenarios and aims to enhance joint response capabilities.
In this context, digital networks based on undersea cables have assumed strategic importance. In the Indo-Pacific region, over 95% of international data traffic is carried by these undersea cables. This indicates that a vision of "a free and open Indo-Pacific" can only be realized if the protection of these cables is securely ensured. This vision heavily relies on continuous communication and information-sharing based on established networks and connectivity in the region.
Given the significance of undersea cables, safeguarding them is vital for national security. However, they are susceptible to various severe threats. Any physical damage to the submarine cable infrastructure can lead to considerable economic losses for the allied industries of the involved countries, resulting in disruption in, and even paralysis of, inter-country information networks.
Undersea cables face threats from natural incidents and deliberate sabotage, aimed at data theft, intelligence gathering, or disrupting data flows. Often, these attacks are orchestrated by nation-states as part of hybrid warfare, intending to sever the military communication of an opposing nation. Moreover, some attacks are driven by state-sponsored entities with the aim of causing cable malfunctions, manipulating data flows, or increasing data dependence among nation-states in the region.
Given the intensifying geopolitical competition, we cannot overlook the possibility that attacks on undersea cables might be used as tools for crisis escalation, not merely for the direct benefits of the attack itself. By severing or disrupting the digital connectivity of countries in the region, geopolitical tensions can arise, leading to deeper fragmentation. The proposed session focuses on the growing significance of digital connectivity and the associated security implications. The session seeks insights from maritime experts and academics in the Indo-Pacific region regarding the aforementioned threat scenarios and aims to enhance joint response capabilities.
