How Undersea Cables In Hormuz Power Global Internet, Cloud Services And Why They're At Risk Now?

Last Updated:April 28, 2026, 19:56 IST

Several submarine fibre-optic cables run through this narrow waterway, carrying large volumes of data from India and Southeast Asia to Europe via Gulf states and Egypt.

The Strait of Hormuz, already known as one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints, is also a hidden backbone of the global internet. Several submarine fibre-optic cables pass through this narrow waterway, carrying vast amounts of data from India and Southeast Asia to Europe via the Gulf states and Egypt.

Several submarine fibre-optic cables run through this narrow waterway, carrying large volumes of data from India and Southeast Asia to Europe via Gulf states and Egypt.

Last week, Iran warned that these underwater cables could become a vulnerable point for the region’s digital economy, raising fresh concerns about the security of critical infrastructure during the ongoing conflict. The warning comes as tensions in the region continue to disrupt energy flows and raise risks for global connectivity networks.

WHY HORMUZ MATTERS FOR THE INTERNET

Subsea cables are fibre-optic lines laid on the ocean floor that transmit data across continents. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), they carry around 99% of global internet traffic.

These cables are essential for everyday digital life. They power cloud services, online communication, financial transactions, e-commerce platforms, and cross-border business operations.

Geopolitical analyst Masha Kotkin told Reuters, “Damaged cables mean the internet slowing down or outages, e-commerce disruptions, delayed financial transactions … and economic fallout from all of these disruptions."

The Gulf region is also becoming a major digital hub, with countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia investing heavily in artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure to diversify away from oil dependence. These systems rely entirely on fast and stable data movement through undersea cables.

Key routes through Hormuz include the Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE-1) system linking Southeast Asia to Europe, the FALCON network connecting India and Sri Lanka with Gulf states, and the Gulf Bridge International system linking regional countries including Iran.

WHAT MAKES THEM VULNERABLE

Despite their importance, submarine cables face both natural and human risks. The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) estimates that most annual faults—around 150 to 200 globally—are caused not by conflict but by fishing activity and ship anchors.

However, experts say geopolitical tension increases indirect risk. Undersea currents, earthquakes, and storms can also damage cables, though operators try to protect them by burying and armouring key sections.

Kotkin further added that “in a situation of active military operations, the risk of unintentional damage increases, and the longer this conflict lasts, the higher the likelihood of unintentional damage."

A similar incident occurred in 2024 in the Red Sea when a drifting vessel damaged cables after being struck during regional hostilities.

NO EASY FIX IF DAMAGE OCCURS

Repairing undersea cables is technically possible but logistically complex in conflict zones. Repair ships require permits to enter territorial waters, and insurance concerns can delay operations.

“Often one of the biggest problems with doing repairs is you have to get permits into the waters where the damage is. That can take a long time sometimes and can be the biggest source (of problems)," Alan Mauldin of TeleGeography said.

Even after repairs, rerouting and seabed surveys may be needed to avoid future risks from debris or unexploded objects.

If cables fail, alternatives are limited. Satellite networks cannot handle global internet-scale traffic and are more expensive, while low-earth orbit systems like Starlink remain limited in capacity.

Mauldin noted that satellites are “not an alternative" to subsea systems, as they still depend on land networks and are better suited for mobility-based uses such as aviation and maritime communication.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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