The internet feels effortless, but 99% of intercontinental traffic flows through 450 submarine cables lying vulnerable on ocean floors. These physical networks now sit at the center of geopolitical competition, with nations racing to control infrastructure that shapes who accesses information and who controls it.
The Hidden Infrastructure Powering Everything
When Tonga lost internet connectivity for weeks in 2022 after a volcanic eruption severed its undersea cable, the island experienced what most take for granted: the fragility of our digital lifeline. Over 450 submarine cables spanning 1.3 million kilometers carry 99% of intercontinental internet traffic across ocean floors. These physical cables, roughly the diameter of a garden hose, lie vulnerable on the seabed.
More recently, four submarine cables were damaged off Côte d’Ivoire on March 14, 2024, disrupting connectivity across West Africa. These incidents reveal how a single cut can cascade into regional communication blackouts.
Cables are just one piece of this vast puzzle. Hyperscale data centers consume over 200 terawatt-hours annually, more electricity than some countries. Google, Amazon, and Microsoft operate over 600 such facilities globally, running nonstop to keep cloud services alive. Meanwhile, Internet Exchange Points like DE-CIX in Frankfurt process more data daily than the entire internet did in 2000, handling 10+ terabits per second during peak hours.
Geopolitical Stakes in Network Control
Control over internet infrastructure has become a critical national security concern, transforming cables and data centers into geopolitical chess pieces. China has invested over $1 trillion in its Digital Silk Road initiative, laying cables and building data centers across 80+ countries. Chinese firms now construct 70% of Africa’s 4G networks, raising Western concerns about surveillance capabilities and data access.
Western nations launched the Clean Network program to exclude untrusted vendors, effectively fragmenting the global internet into competing spheres. Over 60 countries now restrict cross-border data flows, up from just 10 a decade ago. Russia and China are reportedly developing specialized ships capable of tapping or cutting undersea cables during conflicts. A chilling prospect for infrastructure designed during more cooperative times.
