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.

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.

Read all the details here.

News Release: Launch of International Advisory Body to Support Resilience of Submarine Telecom Cables'
Strengthening resilience of submarine cable networks is key to digital connectivity and economies

​​​​The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Agency for Digital Technologies, and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), the leading industry organisation promoting submarine cable protection, have formed the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience to strengthen the resilience of this vital telecommunication infrastructure.

Submarine telecommunication cables form the backbone of global communications, carrying most of the world's Internet traffic and enabling critical services across the globe, including commerce, financial transactions, government activities, digital health and education.

The Advisory Body will address ways to improve cable resilience by promoting best practices for governments and industry players to ensure the timely deployment and repair of submarine cables, reduce the risks of damage, and enhance the continuity of communications over the cables.

“Submarine cables carry over 99 per cent of international data exchanges, making their resilience a global imperative," said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “The Advisory Body will mobilize expertise from around the world to ensure this vital digital infrastructure remains resilient in the face of disasters, accidents, and other risks."

Recognising the vital role of subsea infrastructure

Damage to submarine cables is not uncommon, with an average of 150 to 200 faults occurring globally each year and requiring about three cable repairs per week, according to the ICPC.

The primary causes of damage include accidental human activity, such as fishing and anchoring, alongside natural hazards, abrasion and equipment failure.

“The formation of this International Advisory Body with ITU marks another step toward safeguarding our global digital infrastructure," said ICPC Chair, Graham Evans. “By working together, we can promote best practices, foster international collaboration, and create a consistent approach to protect the vital submarine cable networks that underpin global connectivity."

Supporting digital resilience globally

The Advisory Body's 40 members include Ministers, Heads of Regulatory Authorities, industry executives, and senior experts on the operations of telecommunication cables.

Members come from all world regions, ensuring diversity and inclusion from countries ranging from small island states to major economies. The membership captures the perspectives of those whose livelihoods and digital futures depend on the operation of submarine telecommunication cables, as well as those who work to deploy, maintain and protect this vital infrastructure.

The Advisory Body is co-chaired by H.E. Minister Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Prof. Sandra Maximiano, Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Communications Authority of the Republic of Portugal (ANACOM).

“Submarine cables are essential to the functioning of our connected world, but they face risks that require coordinated, proactive action," said Tijani. “Therefore, we are happy to host the inaugural Submarine Cable Resilience Summit to be held in Nigeria in early 2025."

"This initiative underscores the global community's commitment to strengthening these networks and advancing international cooperation for digital resilience," said Maximiano.

The Advisory Body will meet at least two times a year. It will consult with experts on telecommunications, digital resilience infrastructure development, infrastructure investment and international policy to provide strategic guidance and encourage sector-wide collaboration.

The first virtual meeting is scheduled for December 2024. The first physical meeting is currently scheduled to take place during the Submarine Cable Resilience Summit, planned for late February 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria.​

Read the full news release here.

PORTSMOUTH, United Kingdom—The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), notes with concern the recent reports of faults on two submarine cables in the Baltic Sea and speculation about the cause. The BCS East-West cable experienced a fault on Sunday, 17th November, and the C-Lion cable reported a fault on Monday, 18th November 2024.

These incidents have sparked significant speculation in news and social media, in many cases with conclusory statements about deliberate damage. At this stage in the investigations, however, no conclusive evidence has been disclosed to support such claims. The ICPC emphasizes that it is vital for the repair to proceed in a timely fashion and for investigations regarding the cause of damage be completed in a timely and objective manner so that governments and industry might learn from the incident and enhance cable protection going forward. Cable operators and governments should continue to work together to investigate the cause.

Consistent with ICPC’s Government Best Practices for Protecting and Promoting Resilience of Submarine Telecommunications Cables, we urge operators and governments to collaborate in identifying and mitigating the causes of these faults. Historical data shows that the primary causes of cable damage globally are accidental, with approximately 70-80% of incidents attributed to commercial fishing activities and ship anchors. The remaining faults are typically caused by other factors such as abrasion, equipment failure or by natural hazards (seafloor currents, storms, submarine landslides, sediment flows etc.).

Submarine cables are designed with multiple layers of protection, including burial beneath the seabed, armouring, and strategic route planning. Despite these measures, damage and repairs are not uncommon, with an average of 150–200 faults occurring globally each year. It shall be statistically noted that the global network is made up of about 450 cable systems spanning more than 1.5 million kms.

Investigations into the cause can take some time, with submarine cable repair ships conducting physical inspections and operators using tools such as Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) to gather additional insights. This process underscores the complexity of determining whether damage was accidental or intentional.

It is also important to note that damage to one or even two cables is unlikely to cause significant service disruptions due to the built-in diversity and redundancy of cable networks. These systems are specifically designed to reroute data traffic in the event of an outage, minimising any potential impact on customers.

The ICPC continues to advocate for stronger collaboration between operators, governments, and stakeholders to expedite repair permits, enhance security measures for repair operations, and ensure that critical undersea infrastructure remains protected against a growing range of threats.

About the ICPC: To promote submarine cable protection and resilience, the ICPC works with its members, governments, international organisations, other marine industries, and the scientific community to: mitigate risks of natural and human damage to cables; develop recommendations and best practices for industry and governments throughout the cable project life cycle; promote scientific research addressing how cables exist in the marine environment; and promote the rule of law for the oceans. The ICPC has more than 230 Member organisations from over 70 countries who build, operate, and maintain submarine telecommunications and power cable infrastructure. To learn more about the ICPC, visit: www.iscpc.org or send an e-mail to [email protected].