Submarine Cables in Australia, Indo-Pacific Face Growing Attack Risk: Report

The threat to submarine cables in the Indo-Pacific region is no longer hypothetical but an alarming reality that requires urgent attention. A recent report from the National Security College at the Australian National University highlights the vulnerability of these critical infrastructure assets.

Submarine cables in Australia and across the Indo-Pacific are increasingly targeted by state and non-state actors seeking to disrupt global connectivity. The potential consequences of such disruptions are severe, with economic impacts rivaling those of traditional military conflicts. As digital connectivity becomes more essential, safeguarding underwater cables is crucial.

The report emphasizes the transnational nature of submarine cables, which span multiple jurisdictions and vast distances, necessitating a coordinated international effort for effective protection. Currently, only a few international operators maintain and repair these cables, highlighting the inadequacy of existing arrangements.

Australia needs to take urgent steps to enhance cable protection by improving monitoring, repair capabilities, and developing military capacities such as seabed surveillance and anti-drone measures. This includes holding joint exercises with regional partners in South-east Asia to improve monitoring of cables and practicing responses to attacks. Establishing an Indo-Pacific association to bring together regional cable operators is also proposed.

International cooperation is crucial as countries inevitably cross multiple jurisdictions while maintaining these critical infrastructure assets. The recent launch of the Guiding Principles for Underwater Infrastructure Defence Exchanges at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore is a welcome step towards strengthening cooperation.

The increasing threat to submarine cables is part of a broader trend: state actors employing hybrid warfare strategies to probe and test cable infrastructure. A 2024 incident off Norway’s coast, where a Chinese-flagged vessel allegedly intentionally dragged its anchor and severed two submarine cable networks, illustrates this trend.

Governments and international organizations must recognize that protecting submarine cables requires sustained engagement with industry, regional partners, and close allies. Australia should equip its navy ships to conduct cable repairs and have agreements with repair firms ensuring priority access if requested by the government.

The battle for control of submarine cables is a hidden war being waged beneath the waves, demanding attention from governments and international organizations lest global connectivity be severed.