By The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Agency for Digital Technologies, and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), the leading industry organisation promoting submarine cable protection, have formed the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience to strengthen the resilience of this vital telecommunication infrastructure.
Recall that following a recent undersea cable cuts that challenged connectivities in many countries in the West African region, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) made a called for a coordinated and multilateral approach by the region to protect shared telecommunications infrastructure, and diversify connectivity to ensure uninterruptible connections.
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, who made the submission in a statement delivered at the 21st West Africa Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly (WATRA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) raised the urgent need for the subregion to establish a mechanism to protect itself from damage to submarine infrastructure and its attendant impact on the subregion.
NCC Unveils Plans to Mitigate Future West Africa Submarine Cable Mishap
Submarine telecommunication cables form the backbone of global communications, carrying most of the world’s Internet traffic and enabling critical services across the globe, including commerce, financial transactions, government activities, digital health and education.
The Advisory Body will address ways to improve cable resilience by promoting best practices for governments and industry players to ensure the timely deployment and repair of submarine cables, reduce the risks of damage, and enhance the continuity of communications over the cables.
“Submarine cables carry over 99 per cent of international data exchanges, making their resilience a global imperative,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “The Advisory Body will mobilize expertise from around the world to ensure this vital digital infrastructure remains resilient in the face of disasters, accidents, and other risks.”
