With 99 per cent of global telecommunications activities powered by undersea submarine cables, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has declared these cables the lifeline of modern telecommunications. These essential infrastructures form the backbone of global connectivity, carrying the vast majority of internet, voice and data traffic across continents.
Rising from a two-day submarine cable summit in Abuja, the ITU emphasised that cable resilience is the only way to sustain their viability for the good of humanity. The discussions underscored the importance of strengthening and protecting these cables to prevent disruptions that could impact global economies, public services and daily communications.
Globally, more than 500 undersea submarine cables facilitate telecommunications services for network operators, supporting 99 per cent of all data transmission. These cables land at approximately 1,400 stations worldwide, ensuring seamless connectivity. In Nigeria, eight of these vital cables land at various points along the country’s coastline, making it one of Africa’s major hubs for submarine cable connectivity.
Among the 54 African countries recognised by the United Nations, 38 have coastlines, while 16 are landlocked. Of those with coastal access, 37 countries have at least one submarine cable landing, with Eritrea being the lone exception (Western Sahara is considered a disputed territory).
By the end of 2019, among the 37 African nations with submarine cable landings, 11 had only one subsea cable, 10 had two, six had three, and another 10 had more than three. Nigeria stands out as one of the African countries with the largest number of cable-landing stations, underscoring its strategic importance in global connectivity.
Nigeria’s undersea submarine cables are crucial in providing internet connectivity and enabling global communication. The eight major submarine cables landing in Nigeria include:
MainOne Cable – 10 terabits capacity
ntel’s SAT-3 – 800 gigabits capacity
Glo-1 – 2.5 terabits capacity
African Coast to Europe (ACE) Cable System – 5.5 terabits capacity
West African Cable System (WACS) – 14.5 terabits capacity
Nigeria-Cameroon Submarine Cable System (NCSCS) – 12.8 terabits capacity
Equiano – 100 terabits capacity
2Africa – 180 terabits capacity
These cables ensure that Nigeria remains a major hub for data exchange and telecommunications infrastructure in Africa, enabling high-speed internet access and fostering economic development.
The two-day event, hosted by Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with the ITU and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), resulted in key declarations aimed at strengthening global submarine cable resilience. These include: Enhancing cable protection through proactive risk mitigation strategies, encouraging diverse routes and landings to improve resilience and service continuity and ensuring timely deployment and repair to minimize service disruptions.
According to the ITU, governments, industry leaders, and international organisations expressed strong support for global initiatives to reinforce submarine cable resilience. The Summit Declaration, developed by the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience, emphasised the need for increased international cooperation, technological advancements to safeguard cables, sustainable approaches to cable management and capacity-building to address emerging global challenges.
More than 99 per cent of international data traffic relies on approximately 500 submarine telecommunications cables spanning over 1.7 million kilometers worldwide. With an estimated 150 to 200 faults occurring annually, disruptions to these networks have significant consequences on economies, access to information, and essential services.
“Submarine telecommunications cables are the fundamental backbone of our interconnected world. Entire economies feel the impact of disruptions to service,” said ITU secretary-general, Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “This summit is galvanising global efforts to ensure the resilience of this vital telecommunications infrastructure.”
The declaration also highlighted the need for technological innovation and sustainable infrastructure development to prepare for the growing connectivity demands of the future. With digital transformation accelerating globally, these initiatives will be critical in ensuring reliable, high-speed internet access for all.
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani underscored the country’s strategic role in global connectivity. “With submarine cables forming the lifelines of the digital age, strengthening their resilience is a shared priority,” Tijani said. “This summit and its declaration underscore our commitment to safeguarding the infrastructure that our digital economy is built upon. As a key landing point for submarine cables in Africa, Nigeria is well-placed to contribute to and help shape global efforts to enhance resilience.”
Chair of ANACOM and co-chair of the advisory body, Prof. Sandra Maximiano emphasised the significance of international collaboration. “This is a key moment for submarine cable resilience as this declaration clears the way for greater international cooperation,” she said. “Given the importance of submarine cables in connecting Portugal, particularly our Autonomous Regions of Madeira and the Azores, and our strategic position for landing transcontinental cables, this declaration represents a major development for us. I believe it is an important achievement for the entire submarine cable ecosystem.”
The Abuja summit also marked the first in-person meeting of the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience, established by the ITU in partnership with the ICPC in late 2024. This body aims to enhance the operational resilience of submarine cables, ensuring dependable global connectivity.
ICPC chairman, Graham Evans stressed the importance of cross-sector collaboration. “This summit brought together the global submarine cable industry and governments to focus on the continued protection and resilience of this critical infrastructure,” Evans said. “This cooperation provides a key opportunity to work together on practical steps to promote best practices and enhance the resilience of submarine cables worldwide.”
The advisory body also announced the formation of specialised working groups dedicated to risk identification, monitoring and mitigation; Improving connectivity and geographic diversity of landing points and routes and ensuring timely deployment and repair of cables.
Some regions have particularly high concentrations of undersea cables. Egypt, for instance, is a major hub for undersea cables, with many passing through its territory. The country has long been a key player in subsea connectivity, linking Africa, Europe and Asia through its extensive coastline on the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea. Telecom Egypt is one of the largest subsea cable operators in the world, playing a pivotal role in global communications.
Similarly, the North Atlantic Ocean between the U.S. and Europe hosts a dense network of submarine cables that facilitate transcontinental communication. These cables are critical for economic activities, business operations, and government communications between the two continents.
The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), which owns and operates 98 per cent of the world’s undersea communication cables, continues to play a vital role in maintaining and expanding this essential infrastructure. As of 2018, nearly every African country had at least one submarine cable connecting it to the global network. With ongoing projects like Equiano, 2Africa, DARE1, PEACE, and Umoja, Africa is steadily expanding its undersea cable infrastructure to enhance connectivity and economic growth.
As submarine cable networks continue to evolve, they remain a key indicator of technological and economic progress. Strengthening their resilience and expanding their capacity will be critical in ensuring uninterrupted global communications and advancing digital transformation across nations.
