International advisory body approves report on submarine cable resilience

The International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience approved its final report on 10 July 2026, providing recommendations intended to strengthen the reliability of global submarine telecommunications infrastructure.

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), submarine cables carry more than 99% of global data traffic and support services including communications, finance, healthcare, education and government operations.

The report identifies several challenges, including physical damage, longer repair times, the concentration of infrastructure in certain locations and the dependence of some countries on a limited number of cable systems. It highlights the particular exposure of small island developing states, least developed countries and other underserved regions.

Its recommendations cover three main areas: faster cable deployment and repair, improved identification and management of risks, and greater connectivity and geographical diversity.

The report also calls for stronger cooperation between governments and industry, simpler regulatory and permitting processes, improved monitoring, more diverse cable routes, additional infrastructure redundancy and better emergency preparedness. It recommends that climate and environmental considerations be included in resilience planning.

The advisory body was established in 2024 by the ITU and the International Cable Protection Committee. Its final meeting took place during the WSIS Forum 2026 in Geneva and marked the completion of its two-year work programme.