Specialists Say: The Unpredictable Nature of Submarine Cable Damage
Experts discuss the unpredictable nature of submarine cable damage in this article. The analysis delves into the complexities and challenges associated with maintaining the integrity of underwater communication infrastructure. It highlights the various factors contributing to cable vulnerabilities and the implications of disruptions in connectivity. Through expert insights, the piece sheds light on the critical importance of reliability in these essential global networks.
TroibNews 
Submarine cables are pivotal to global communications and data exchange, serving as the essential framework of the modern world. An incident reported by Chunghwa Telecom, a company based in Taiwan, China, in early January has attracted attention due to alleged sabotage linked to the Chinese mainland.
During a press briefing on January 8, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, labeled the accusations as "baseless."
"The DPP authorities made baseless assumptions and deliberately exaggerated the incident as a so-called 'gray zone threat' despite the basic facts and accident liability remaining unclear," Chen stated.
Experts have indicated that the unpredictability of seismic activities complicates the ability to ascertain when and where a cable might sustain damage. The International Cable Protection Committee report elaborated on this, explaining that "such events can lead to extensive outages, sometimes affecting global communications for extended periods."
These cables are installed deep on the ocean floor, linking continents and enabling the transfer of vast quantities of information, including internet traffic and financial transactions.
Zhang Xiaolong and Xu Jiasheng from the First Institute of Oceanography under China's Ministry of Natural Resources pointed out that various factors can lead to cable damage, including natural disasters, human interference, technological failures, or general wear and tear.
1. **Natural Disasters:** Earthquakes and Underwater Volcanic Activity
Natural geological events are one of the main contributors to the unpredictability surrounding submarine cable damage. Seismic activity, such as underwater earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, can disrupt the seabed and cause extensive damage to cables. "The risk of submarine cable damage from geological events, such as underwater earthquakes or volcanic activity, is unpredictable and often catastrophic," asserts the International Cable Protection Committee. Even though such occurrences are infrequent, they can have far-reaching consequences, potentially taking entire communication networks offline for long durations.
2. **Oceanic Conditions:** Storms, Currents, and the Changing Seafloor
These cables, submerged in substantial bodies of water, face the constant force of tides, waves, and seasonal storms. Inclement weather such as hurricanes or typhoons can inflict direct harm to cables or their protective coverings. The International Telecommunication Union warns that "weather-related events, such as storms or large waves, can be extremely damaging to submarine cable systems, but predicting the exact timing and location of such events remains challenging." Additionally, the movement of waves and sediment can either drag or bury cables, while shifts in the seafloor—caused by tides or underwater landslides—can create pressure points, leading to further damage.
Despite advancements in technology that enhance the placement and protection of submarine cables, their susceptibility to the ocean's dynamic nature remains a serious issue. The ITU report further emphasizes that "oceanic conditions, especially unpredictable storms and ocean currents, contribute to the randomness of submarine cable damage."
3. **Human Activities:** Fishing, Shipping, and Seabed Mining
Apart from natural disruptions, human actions also present a significant and often unpredictable risk to submarine cables. Activities such as fishing trawling, shipping, and seabed mining can inadvertently cause cable breaks. The ICPC notes that "human activity remains one of the most common causes of cable damage, but its occurrence is unpredictable, depending on shipping routes, fishing practices, and other factors."
According to Zhang and Xu, the randomness associated with submarine cable damage arises from the intricate interactions of natural disasters, human activities, oceanic conditions, aging infrastructure, and technological failures.
As global demand for connectivity continues to increase, it becomes increasingly important to comprehend the unpredictable risks associated with submarine cables in order to protect communication infrastructure on a worldwide scale.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
During a press briefing on January 8, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, labeled the accusations as "baseless."
"The DPP authorities made baseless assumptions and deliberately exaggerated the incident as a so-called 'gray zone threat' despite the basic facts and accident liability remaining unclear," Chen stated.
Experts have indicated that the unpredictability of seismic activities complicates the ability to ascertain when and where a cable might sustain damage. The International Cable Protection Committee report elaborated on this, explaining that "such events can lead to extensive outages, sometimes affecting global communications for extended periods."
These cables are installed deep on the ocean floor, linking continents and enabling the transfer of vast quantities of information, including internet traffic and financial transactions.
Zhang Xiaolong and Xu Jiasheng from the First Institute of Oceanography under China's Ministry of Natural Resources pointed out that various factors can lead to cable damage, including natural disasters, human interference, technological failures, or general wear and tear.
1. **Natural Disasters:** Earthquakes and Underwater Volcanic Activity
Natural geological events are one of the main contributors to the unpredictability surrounding submarine cable damage. Seismic activity, such as underwater earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, can disrupt the seabed and cause extensive damage to cables. "The risk of submarine cable damage from geological events, such as underwater earthquakes or volcanic activity, is unpredictable and often catastrophic," asserts the International Cable Protection Committee. Even though such occurrences are infrequent, they can have far-reaching consequences, potentially taking entire communication networks offline for long durations.
2. **Oceanic Conditions:** Storms, Currents, and the Changing Seafloor
These cables, submerged in substantial bodies of water, face the constant force of tides, waves, and seasonal storms. Inclement weather such as hurricanes or typhoons can inflict direct harm to cables or their protective coverings. The International Telecommunication Union warns that "weather-related events, such as storms or large waves, can be extremely damaging to submarine cable systems, but predicting the exact timing and location of such events remains challenging." Additionally, the movement of waves and sediment can either drag or bury cables, while shifts in the seafloor—caused by tides or underwater landslides—can create pressure points, leading to further damage.
Despite advancements in technology that enhance the placement and protection of submarine cables, their susceptibility to the ocean's dynamic nature remains a serious issue. The ITU report further emphasizes that "oceanic conditions, especially unpredictable storms and ocean currents, contribute to the randomness of submarine cable damage."
3. **Human Activities:** Fishing, Shipping, and Seabed Mining
Apart from natural disruptions, human actions also present a significant and often unpredictable risk to submarine cables. Activities such as fishing trawling, shipping, and seabed mining can inadvertently cause cable breaks. The ICPC notes that "human activity remains one of the most common causes of cable damage, but its occurrence is unpredictable, depending on shipping routes, fishing practices, and other factors."
According to Zhang and Xu, the randomness associated with submarine cable damage arises from the intricate interactions of natural disasters, human activities, oceanic conditions, aging infrastructure, and technological failures.
As global demand for connectivity continues to increase, it becomes increasingly important to comprehend the unpredictable risks associated with submarine cables in order to protect communication infrastructure on a worldwide scale.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
