Africa leads first meeting to improve undersea infrastructure

International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience holds inaugural meeting

Chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the inaugural meeting of the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience brought together 40 leaders and experts to collaborate to improve the resilience of submarine telecommunciation cable systems.

Minister Bosun Tijani, co-chaired the meeting with Prof Sandra Maximiano, Chair of ANACOM’s Board of Directors (Portugal), included experts from submarine cable operators, telecommunications companies, government agencies, maritime authorities, and international organizations, as well as relevant UN agencies that are serving as advisors.

Key issues discussed included promoting dialogue and collaboration on potential ways and means to improve the resilience of undersea cables as well as 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

Submarine cables for the vital infrastructure that underpins global communications, carrying over 99% of international data traffic and serving as the backbone of the digital economy.

The meeting was opened by ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, who highlighted the critical importance of enhancing resilience to ensure global connectivity. She emphasised the need for international cooperation, innovation and proactive measures to address vulnerabilities.

Looking ahead, the Advisory Body is preparing for its first in-person Submarine Cable Resilience Summit, to be held in early next year. This event will provide a platform to deepen dialogue and generate actionable strategies to ensure the resilience of submarine cable systems worldwide.

The inaugural meeting demonstrated the global commitment to protect submarine cables, promote reliable connectivity and foster international cooperation to address the growing challenges of the digital age.