Could a prolonged conflict between the US and Iran threaten another vital link?
While countries grapple with the perils of a continuing oil shock, essential internet cables are also at risk
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Indonesian seafarer among 20,000 stranded for months as Strait of Hormuz remains blocked
The outlet warned that damage to multiple cable systems would trigger a “digital catastrophe” and inflict multibillion-dollar losses on southern Persian Gulf countries which rely on undersea cables for more than 90 per cent of their connectivity.
The report emphasised that Gulf nations would suffer more severe consequences from any cable damage than Iran, given Tehran’s greater reliance on terrestrial routes for internet traffic.
Why do the cables matter?
Beyond the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea hosts a dense network of undersea cables. Various estimations point to around 15 to 17 major submarine cables passing through the waterway, carrying more than 90 per cent of data traffic between Europe and Asia.