Africa well represented on new advisory body

Improving submarine infrastructure

Established last month by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience, contains ten African members including a co-chair from Nigeria.

Co-chaired by Minister Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Prof Sandra Maximiano, Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Communications Authority of the Republic of Portugal (ANACOM), will address ways to improve cable maintenance, prevent damage from natural hazards and accidental human activities, ensure faster recovery times after disruptions, increase redundancy and promote sustainable practices in the industry.

The Advisory Body's 40 members include ministers, heads of regulatory authorities, industry executives, and senior experts on the operations of telecommunication cables.

The membership captures the perspectives of those whose livelihoods and digital futures depend on the operation of submarine telecommunication cables, as well as those who work to deploy, maintain and protect this vital infrastructure.

“Submarine cables are essential to the functioning of our connected world, but they face risks that require coordinated, proactive action,” said Tijani. “Therefore, we are happy to host the inaugural Submarine Cable Resilience Summit to be held in Nigeria in early 2025.”

“This initiative underscores the global community's commitment to strengthening these networks and advancing international cooperation for digital resilience,” said Maximiano.

The Advisory Body will consult with experts on telecommunications, digital resilience infrastructure development, infrastructure investment and international policy to provide strategic guidance and encourage sector-wide collaboration.

With an initial term of two years, the advisory body comprises 40 leaders and experts from the public and private sectors, including representatives from submarine cable operators, telecommunications companies, government agencies, maritime authorities, and international organizations, as well as relevant UN agencies that are serving as advisors.

The members represent all six of the global ITU regions, ensuring diversity and inclusion from countries ranging from small island states to major economies, and capturing the perspectives of those whose livelihoods, economies, and digital futures depend on the operation of submarine telecommunication cables, as well as those who work to deploy, maintain and protect this critical infrastructure

Recognising the vital role of subsea infrastructure

Over 200 cable repairs were reported worldwide in 2023 by the ICPC - equivalent to more than three cable failures per week on average. With the world's reliance on stable, high-speed Internet growing every day, the resilience of these cables is paramount.

The primary causes of damage include accidental human activity, such as fishing and anchoring, alongside natural hazards, abrasion and equipment failure.

“The formation of this International Advisory Body with ITU marks another step toward safeguarding our global digital infrastructure,” said ICPC Chair, Graham Evans. “By working together, we can promote best practices, foster international collaboration, and create a consistent approach to protect the vital submarine cable networks that underpin global connectivity.”

In an increasingly interconnected world, submarine telecom cables serve as the lifelines of the global digital economy, facilitating over 99% of international data exchange. These cables enable communication, finance, cloud services, and critical infrastructure to operate seamlessly across borders.

Disruptions can affect industry and government operations, as well as the ability of individuals to access education, healthcare and financial services.

Members of the body include:

CO CHAIRS

◎ Bosun Tijani Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (Nigeria)
◎ Sandra Maximiano Chair, Board of Directors ANACOM (Portugal)

EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES

◎ Tomas Lamanauskas ITU Deputy Secretary General (Lithuania)
◎ Kent Bressie ICPC Legal Adviser (United States of America)

MEMBERS

◎ Vincent Lemaire VP Special Projects Alcatel Submarine Networks (France)
◎ Rui Faria Executive Director Angola Cables (Angola)
◎ Pamela Currie Director, Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre (Australia)
◎ Nomsa Muswai Co-Founder ASEF-Africa (South Africa)
◎ Gustavo Borges Executive Superintendent, Anatel - National Telecommunications Agency (Brazil)
◎ Dr Jane Munga Fellow Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Kenya)
◎ Rodney Taylor Secretary-General Caribbean Telecommunications Union (Barbados)
◎ Zhiguo Zhao Chief Engineer, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (China)
◎ Xiaowei Luan Executive Vice President China Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (China)
◎ Yongbo Tang Senior Vice President China United Network Communications Group Company Limited (China)
◎ Youssouf Hamidou Issoufa Director General Comores Cables (Comores)
◎ Michael Cunningham CEO Crosslake Fibre (Canada)
◎ Deemah AlYahya Secretary-General Digital Cooperation Organisation (Saudi Arabia)
◎ Mohamed Shamroukh Executive President, National Telecom Regulatory Authority (Egypt)
◎ Stephen Dawe Chairman European Subsea Cables Association (United Kingdom)
◎ Jarkko Saarimäki Director General, Finnish Transport and Communications Agency-Traficom (Finland)
◎ Jo Conroy Technical Programme Manager Google (United Kingdom)
◎ Sigurd Zhang Executive Vice President HMN Tech Co Ltd (China)
◎ Neeraj Mittal Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications (India)
◎ Koji Ono Company Executive Director, Submarine Cable Networks KDDI (Japan)
◎ Jesmond Bugeja Chief Executive Officer, Malta Communications Authority (Malta)
◎ Kelly Donohue Global Head of Network Infrastructure Policy Meta Platforms (United States of America)
◎ Károly Mátrai CEO MVM Group (Hungary)
◎ Andy Palmer-Felgate Acting President North American Submarine Cable Association-NASCA
◎ Eduardo Mateo Director, Head of Technology Strategy, Submarine Network Division NEC Corporation
◎ Ernst Noorman Ambassador-at-Large for Cyber Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)
◎ Abdullah Al-Mubadal Deputy Governor, Telecommunication Sector of Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) (Saudi Arabia)
◎ Lew Chuen Hong Chief Executive, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) (Singapore)
◎ Mustafa Yaasin Sheik Director General, National Communications Authority (Somalia)
◎ Nonkqubela Thathakahle Jordan-Dyani Director-General, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (South Africa)
◎ Mohamed Nasr CEO & Managing Director Telecom (Egypt)
◎ Carlos Dasi Chief Technology Officer Telxius (Spain)
◎ Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu Minister, Ministry of Transport and Communications (Timor-Leste)
◎ Semisi (James) Panuve Chief Executive Officer Tonga Cable Limited (Tonga)
◎ Dr Ömer Fatih Sayan Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (Turkey)
◎ Majed Al Mesmar Director General, Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (United Arab Emirates)
◎ Anna Butchart Subsea Telecoms Cables Security Policy Lead, UK Government Department of Science, Innovation and Technology Subsea Telecoms Cables Security Policy (United Kingdom)
◎ Stephan Lang Ambassador and US Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, Department of State (United States of America)
◎ Aliyu Yusuf Aboki Executive Secretary West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (Nigeria)
◎ Sangbu Kim VP Digital World Bank (United States of America)