When seabed goes dark: The Persian Gulf, cable Sabotage, and race for space-based monopoly

Undersea fiber optic cables constitute the backbone of global digital connectivity, carrying over 95% of international data traffic.

- BY REAR ADMIRAL JAGATH RANASINGHE RETD) VSV, USP, psc, MSc (DS) Mgt, MMaritimePol (Aus), PG Dip in CPS, DIP in CR, FNI(Lond), Former Govt Fellow GCSP

The Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb of the Red Sea are two choke points sitting right on top of a huge web of fibre-optic cables laid on the ocean floor. Image courtesy AP

(AP)

The increasing geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States elevate the risk of deliberate or collateral damage to submarine cable systems, particularly in the Persian Gulf a critical global digital chokepoint. This article examines the strategic consequences of undersea cable sabotage in this region and its cascading effects across the Indian Ocean, with a focused analysis on Sri Lanka's vulnerabilities and opportunities. It further argues that prolonged disruption could incentivize technologically advanced states and corporations to accelerate satellite-based global internet architectures, potentially reshaping control over global connectivity. The article concludes that Sri Lanka must urgently operationalize the National Submarine Cable Safety and Resilience Framework (NSCPRF) to safeguard national security while positioning itself within this evolving technological and geopolitical landscape.Beneath the world’s oceans lies a largely invisible but indispensable network of submarine communication cables that form the backbone of the contemporary global order. These cables silently facilitate financial transactions, sustain military command and control, and power the digital economies that define modern life. Yet, in an era of intensifying geopolitical rivalry, this critical infrastructure has emerged as a strategic vulnerability and a prime target for hybrid warfare.