Submarine Cables: Tech Giants Control Critical Internet Infrastructure
For over a century, submarine cables have been the silent backbone of global connectivity, managed by operator consortia. Today, the situation has changed drastically, with tech giants like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon now controlling key routes that move trillions of dollars daily in transactions and power AI, streaming, and cloud traffic.
Europe, the most exposed continent, relies heavily on submarine cables, making it a critical point in the network. However, the region faces challenges due to structural dependencies and lack of specialized repair fleets, while Russia and China increase their presence in strategic underwater locations.
The future of the Internet lies underwater, as control over the physical layer becomes crucial for cost reduction and crisis resilience. Yet, Europe must navigate sovereignty dilemmas and the threat of a physical “splinternet,” with networks segregated by political blocks. The continent’s ability to reduce reliance on foreign multinational companies will determine whether the world’s network remains unified.
