If the internet is primarily dependent on cables that run through oceans connecting different countries and continents. During a war, anyone can cut off a country’s access to the internet. Are there any backup or mitigant in place to avoid this? What happens if you cut the cable?

Question

If the internet is primarily dependent on cables that run through oceans connecting different countries and continents. During a war, anyone can cut off a country’s access to the internet. Are there any backup or mitigant in place to avoid this? What happens if you cut the cable?

In: Technology

Answer 1

Hitting the undersea cables is a common tactic during war. It was a specific focus during the Cold War in fact. Both the US and Russians spent a lot of effort locating and either accessing or mining their opponent’s undersea cables. The US even figured out a way to passively tap Russian cables early on.

Now a days there are a lot more cables and much more commercial use for them. Check out https://www.submarinecablemap.com.

Finding all the cables would not be easy, especially in the depths of the major oceans. The military also has satellite communications so losing physical cables would have less impact.