Nigeria, ITU, and Global Stakeholders Address Submarine Cable Resilience Challenges

Nigeria, alongside the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Portugal, and other key global stakeholders, has come together to explore solutions to the disruption of submarine cables and to bolster the resilience of this critical infrastructure that underpins the global digital economy.

This initiative was the focal point of the ITU International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit, which kicked off on Wednesday in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. The summit’s primary goal is to foster global collaboration, encourage innovative solutions, and bring together leaders from government, industry, and international organizations to address the challenges facing this vital network.

Opening the summit, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, emphasized that the event aimed to fortify global digital infrastructure in response to recent cable disruptions. This summit, the first of its kind in 25 years, is a key step in strengthening the resilience of submarine cables, which have been threatened by various challenges, including physical damage.

Tijani explained that the International Advisory Board for Submarine Cable Resilience, a body formed by the ITU in partnership with the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), was created to foster global dialogue among multiple stakeholders on this issue.

“The resilience of our submarine cable network is crucial. It directly affects economies, security, and digital inclusion worldwide. Submarine cables are the backbone of global digital connectivity, carrying over 95% of international data traffic, linking continents, and enabling modern economies to function smoothly,” Tijani noted.

The Minister stressed the need for increased collaboration to address natural disasters or human activities that disrupt submarine cables. A significant disruption occurred in March 2024, when cable cuts caused global operational disruptions, particularly in African countries, with severe economic consequences.

Globally, submarine cable disruptions occur between 100 and 200 times annually, often resulting in substantial repair delays and affecting millions of people worldwide.

Tijani underscored that the summit was an important step toward collaborative action to address vulnerabilities in the submarine cable network, aiming for a more resilient, secure, and sustainable digital future.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its digital infrastructure, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, and to advancing policies that support connectivity, innovation, and economic growth.

“As a nation, we are taking deliberate steps to recognize and safeguard government infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, which aligns with our broader goal of enhancing digital resilience across all sectors. We are also focused on promoting global access, expanding broadband, and ensuring that connectivity remains a key driver of economic transformation,” Tijani stated.

The Minister concluded by emphasizing that the outcomes of the summit would not only influence global policy and investment decisions but also lay the foundation for long-term international cooperation and resilience.

ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, also addressed the summit, highlighting the importance of the global undersea cable network as a symbol of both innovation and the necessary investment to connect the world.

“By the end of last year, there were 5.5 billion internet users globally. Today, the digital economy is growing faster than the global GDP and is expected to reach $16.5 trillion by 2028. Over the next decade, it’s predicted that two-thirds of new value creation will come from digitally enabled companies,” said Bogdan-Martin.

She stressed that as digital transformation reshapes the global economy, the resilience of submarine cable networks, which typically operate for about 25 years, must be given renewed attention. “Reliability has always been a key priority for these cables,” she added.

Bogdan-Martin also announced that the ITU’s newly established advisory body on submarine cables would provide best practices for governments and industry stakeholders to ensure timely cable deployments, reduce service disruptions, and improve repair times.

Portugal’s Prof. Sandra Maximiano, Chief of the Board of Directors at ANACOM, also addressed the summit, highlighting the critical role of subsea cable networks in global digital infrastructure. She called for regulatory measures and greater attention to regions, countries, and remote islands where economic incentives for prompt responses to cable failures are limited, making them especially vulnerable to disruptions.