Iranian state-linked media has reportedly warned about the vulnerability of undersea cables in the Persian Gulf. The warning highlights the importance of the hidden infrastructure that supports the global internet. These submarine fibre-optic cables pass through the Strait of Hormuz. They carry most international data traffic, including banking transactions, emails, cloud services, and digital communications linking Asia, the Gulf, and Europe. Any damage to these cables could disrupt internet services and financial systems. It could also increase geopolitical tensions. Incidents in the Baltic and Red Seas in recent years have shown the growing risks to such infrastructure. For countries like India, which depend heavily on digital networks, even limited damage could slow connectivity and affect millions of users within minutes.

According to agency reports, Iran’s warning last week about the vulnerability of submarine cables in the Strait of Hormuz has raised fresh concerns over the security of critical digital infrastructure. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically sensitive waterways. It is already known as a major route for global oil shipments. At the same time, it is also vital for the global digital economy. A network of fibre-optic cables runs across the seabed in the region. These cables connect India and Southeast Asia with Europe through the Gulf region and Egypt. They carry a major share of global internet traffic.

Why Undersea Cables Matter; Subsea cables are fibre-optic or electrical lines laid along the ocean floor to transmit data and power across continents. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), nearly 99 per cent of global internet traffic travels through these cables. Beyond internet connectivity, they support telecommunications, cloud computing, financial transactions, artificial intelligence platforms, and digital commerce. Any disruption can therefore have immediate economic consequences. “Damaged cables mean internet slowdowns or outages, disruption in e-commerce, delays in financial transactions, and wider economic fallout,” geopolitical and energy analyst Masha Kotkin reportedly observed. The Gulf region’s increasing dependence on digital infrastructure has further heightened the stakes. Countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia have invested billions of dollars in artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and technology-driven economic diversification, all of which depend heavily on uninterrupted high-speed data movement through subsea cable systems. Among the major cable systems passing through the Strait of Hormuz are the Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE-1) network, the FALCON system connecting India and Gulf nations, and the Gulf Bridge International Cable System linking all Gulf countries, including Iran. Additional networks are also under development.

Risks Intensify Amid Conflict; Experts note that although the global network of submarine cables has expanded significantly over the last decade, annual faults have remained relatively stable at around 150–200 incidents worldwide. Most disruptions are accidental, caused primarily by fishing activities and ship anchors, while sabotage remains a smaller but serious risk. Natural factors such as earthquakes, underwater currents, subsea volcanic activity, and typhoons also threaten cable infrastructure. To reduce vulnerabilities, companies typically bury and armour cables while carefully selecting routes. The ongoing Iran war, has already disrupted energy supplies and regional infrastructure, including reported hits on Amazon Web Services facilities in Bahrain and the UAE. While subsea cables have so far escaped direct attacks, analysts warn that prolonged military operations substantially raise the possibility of unintended damage.

An indirect threat emerges when damaged or drifting vessels drag anchors across the seabed. A similar episode occurred in the Red Sea in 2024 when a commercial vessel struck during Houthi-linked attacks severed multiple cables after drifting uncontrollably. “The longer the conflict continues, the greater the probability of accidental damage,” Kotkin reportedly warned.

Repairs Complicated in Conflict Zones; Industry experts say repairing damaged cables in active conflict areas can become far more difficult than the technical repair itself. Repair vessels may face risks from military activity, sea mines, and insurance complications. Securing permits to enter territorial waters often becomes another major obstacle. “Often one of the biggest problems with repairs is obtaining permission to access the affected waters. That process can take considerable time,” telecom research analyst Alan Mauldin reportedly said. Even after hostilities subside, operators may need to conduct fresh seabed surveys to identify hazards such as sunken vessels or military debris before new cables can be safely laid or damaged ones restored.

Limited Alternatives; Experts reportedly remarked that any cable disruption would not completely isolate Gulf nations because terrestrial backup routes exist. However, they caution that satellite systems cannot realistically replace subsea cables due to limited capacity and significantly higher operational costs. “It’s not as though you can simply switch to satellites,” Mauldin reportedly said, noting that satellites themselves ultimately depend on terrestrial infrastructure and are better suited for mobile applications such as ships and aircraft rather than large-scale internet traffic. As tensions persist in the Gulf, the vulnerability of undersea cables is increasingly being viewed not merely as a technical concern, but as a major geopolitical and economic security issue with global implications. As tensions continue in the Gulf region, concerns over the security of undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz are growing. Experts warn that any disruption to these critical networks could affect global connectivity, financial systems, and digital services far beyond the Middle East.