By Governments, industry executives and international organizations have expressed support for strengthening the world’s vital undersea network of telecommunications cables.at the International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in Abuja, Nigeria.
The concluding Summit Declaration, developed by the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience, includes a commitment to international efforts to reinforce submarine telecommunications cable resilience, centred on actions ranging from increased cooperation to technical advancements.
More than 99 per cent of international data traffic is carried by a network of about 500 submarine telecommunications cables spanning over 1.7 million kilometres worldwide. With an average of 150 to 200 faults reported globally each year, disruptions to communications affect economies, access to information and public services, as well as the daily lives of billions of people.
“Submarine telecommunications cables are a fundamental backbone of our interconnected world. Entire economies feel the impact of disruptions to service,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.
“This summit is galvanizing global efforts to ensure the resilience of this vital telecommunications infrastructure.”
