2025 ICPC Plenary: 15th – 17th April

‘The Big Squeeze: Geopolitics & Spatial Planning’

DoubleTree by Hilton, Montréal, Canada

The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is now calling on those interested in presenting at the next Plenary that will be held in the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Montréal, Canada from 15th – 17th April 2025.

Call for Presentations

Under the Plenary theme ‘The Big Squeeze: Geopolitics & Spatial Planning,’ ICPC seeks presentation abstracts highlighting the following topics related to the submarine cable industry:

• Case Studies: Share your insights into interesting projects, technical activities, challenges from the submarine cable industry.
  • We strongly encourage submittal of industry case studies to share practical experience on topics relating to cable protection, cable damage, cable installation/repair and other activities.
• Increasing Marine Use: What are the challenges, risks, and opportunities for submarine cables in the face of rapidly increasing ocean and seabed use and regulation?
• Sharing the seabed and oceans in harmony in the face of geopolitics: In a complex geopolitical world, submarine cables are under increased scrutiny from governments and the media. What does this mean in practical terms for cable operators?
• Submarine cable protection: Fishing and anchoring are the primary causes of cable damage globally, share your insights on cable protection developments through e.g. charting innovation, technology, or new or emerging initiatives such as new regional groups.
• Building the evidence base: To work alongside other marine activities and in harmony with the marine environment, a solid evidence base is needed to describe, document and explain the submarine cable industry. Share your insights into improving knowledge and understanding of submarine cables from around the world on topics such as environmental interactions; socioeconomics; technical matters; interaction with other marine uses; geopolitics; and installation in new geographies.
• Submarine cable law and regulation: Exploring the intersection between commercial cable development and operations, and regulatory and jurisdictional creep and policy development.

The topics listed above are not limited, so additional ideas are welcome for consideration. As well, our Members really value your subsea cable project experiences and ICPC encourages submission of Case Studies.


About the Plenary: A cornerstone event for our organisation, the ICPC Plenary attracts global attendance and has always provided valuable opportunities to exchange ideas on the planning, installation, operation, protection, and maintenance of cables, to learn from colleagues facing similar challenges, and to get up to date with environmental and legal aspects of submarine cables. This annual event provides tremendous benefits for ICPC Members, presenters, and exhibitors. The Plenary agenda includes presentations, break-out sessions, invited guest speakers, networking opportunities and much more!

Submission details for your presentation abstract:

• Requirement: Submission of a written abstract of your presentation (maximum 225 words / about half of a page).
• Recommended: In addition to your written abstract, we would welcome a video recording of your abstract (no more than two minutes in length) to assist with the selection process. Presenter can submit the video recording in any format through any media tool (i.e., smartphone and/or conference software). Please note, your video will not be shared outside the ICPC Executive Committee and Secretariat, and it will be deleted once the process has closed.
• Presentation abstracts may be submitted here.
• Abstracts due by: Friday, 24th January 2025.
• Notification of acceptance to Presenters by: Friday, 14th February 2025.
• Presenter confirmation of attendance by: Friday, 28th February 2025. (Presenters receive a complimentary pass to attend the Plenary, but Presenters are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs).
• The ICPC will evaluate all submissions based on content, relevance, and quality. Please note that presentations previously used at other industry conference events will not be accepted.

Presentation requirements:

• Presentations should be a maximum of 25 minutes long, including approximately 5 minutes for questions and answers, formatted in accordance with the ICPC guidelines that will be provided.
• Overt marketing presentations will not be accepted. One slide stating the speaker’s affiliation and its activities can be included at the beginning or end of the presentation.
• The Presenter agrees to submit their final presentation by: Friday, 21st March 2025.
• The Presenter understands they will be assigned a specific speaking day and time in the agenda that may not be able to be adjusted.
• In submitting any abstract or presentation, the submitter certifies to the ICPC that the content of the abstract or presentation: (1) reflects the submitter’s owner work or that of his or her organisation; (2) is not subject to export control restrictions or is otherwise authorised or licenced for export or reexport; and (3) does not contain any competitively-sensitive information.

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About the ICPC: ICPC is a non-commercial, non-profit international community of interest comprising more than 230 member organisations from 71 countries who are active in the critical activities of building, operating, and maintaining submarine telecommunications and power cable infrastructure. ICPC Member organisations represent over 98% of the world’s submarine telecommunications cable infrastructure, and an increasing number of international submarine power cables. To learn more about the ICPC, visit: www.iscpc.org or send an e-mail to secretariat@iscpc.org.