The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) represents member companies that own or operate about 98% of the world’s submarine cable systems as well as the cable ship companies laying and maintaining cables.
Submarine cables are laid and routed to maximise security, while providing fast, reliable and cost-effective communications worldwide. Of the 200 or so submarine cable faults (incidents of physical damage) that occur each year, most are from human activities (fishing, ship anchors), and are less likely to be from natural hazards (earthquakes, typhoons). Whether due to environmental, man-made or (occasional) deliberate acts of external aggression, the ICPC works to improve cable security by participating in global security workshops, authoring papers, and engaging with states and regional inter-governmental organisations. The ICPC also actively collaborates with research organisations to better define the risks posed by natural hazards and hence improve cable security in earthquake and storm-prone regions of the globe.
Throughout the oceans, there are decentralized international commercial submarine cable systems that provide robust and resilient communications between many countries, their citizens and businesses and are generally owned: 1) privately by joint ventures; 2) by consortia of companies; or 3) by a single entity.
In addition to considerable actions taken by cable owners and ship operators to protect their systems and vessels, there is a widespread recognition in the industry that adequate security also requires close cooperation with the countries where cables land and the flag States of cable ships.
The ICPC says it has led the way in identifying major security gaps that need to be addressed.
By Jake Frith
