The Invisible Backbone of the Internet: Nearly A Million Miles of

The internet''s power and speed come from vast networks of fiber-optic cables buried deep beneath oceans, linking the continents. These cables are marvels of engineering.

The bizarre history of internet outages

For a while, the entire nation of Armenia''s internet connectivity depended on a single fibre-optic cable running through Georgia. If that sounds precarious, you''re right. In 2011, a 75-year

Invisible highways: The vast network of undersea cables

There are typically 150 to 200 cable incidents each year, averaging about three to four per week. The ITU senior official recalled that “in recent years, there have been quite a few high-profile...

Red Sea cables are cut, disrupting internet in Asia and the Mideast

In early 2024, Yemen''s internationally recognized government in exile alleged that the Houthis planned to attack undersea cables in the Red Sea. Several were cut, possibly by a ship attacked by the

2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions

On 17–18 November 2024, two submarine telecommunication cables, the BCS East-West Interlink and C-Lion1 fibre-optic cables, were disrupted in the Baltic Sea.

2024 Baltic Sea submarine cable disruptions

OverviewBackgroundDisruptions from 18 November 2024ReactionsSuspicious shipsInvestigationsSee also

On 17–18 November 2024, two submarine telecommunication cables, the BCS East-West Interlink and C-Lion1 fibre-optic cables, were disrupted in the Baltic Sea. The incidents involving both cables occurred in close proximity to each other and near-simultaneously, which prompted accusations from European government officials and NATO member states of hybrid warfare and sabotage as the cause of the damage. Currently, the damage to those undersea cables has not been conclusively attributed to any specific p

Multiple Subsea Fiber Cuts in Red Sea Impact Traffic

Multiple subsea fiber optic cables in the Red Sea suffered simultaneous cuts on September 6, 2025, disrupting global internet and communications traffic. The incident began at

Information Warfare in the Depths: An Analysis of Global Undersea Cable

In 2021, Norwegian undersea fiber-optic cables were cut. Norway''s Institute of Maritime Research reported “ extensive damage ” to the Lofoten-Vesterålen Ocean Observatory that rendered the

How vulnerable are undersea cables?

In late 2024 and early 2025, several important data connections across the Baltic Sea were broken, including between Sweden and Lithuania. The cable breaks received a lot of attention and raised...

Red Sea Cable Cut Update: What You Need to Know

In early September 2025, many undersea fiber-optic cables in the red sea were cut once again, which has shaken the digital lifelines of Asia and Middle east. This incident caused widespread internet

Information Warfare in the Depths: An Analysis of Global

In 2021, Norwegian undersea fiber-optic cables were cut. Norway''s Institute of Maritime Research reported “ extensive damage ” to the Lofoten-Vesterålen

Why Do Subsea Cable Cuttings Happen, and How Can We Reduce

According to the International Cable Protection Committee, there are approximately 1.7 million kilometers of undersea cable, and these cables undergo 150 to 200 incidents each year.