Software Engineering Daily

The Subsea Cable Network with Josh Dzieza

Feb 12, 2025

In this discussion, Josh Dzieza, a reporter from The Verge specializing in subsea cables, teams up with Gregor Vand, a tech security expert. They delve into the vital role of subsea cables, which transmit 95% of global internet data, and their vulnerability to geopolitical threats, particularly from major powers like Russia and China. The duo explores the challenges of cable repairs, the strategic decision-making in the industry, and the urgent need for security enhancements as tensions rise. They also touch on technological innovations shaping the future of these crucial infrastructures.

44:19

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Episode guests

Josh Dzieza

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Subsea cables, vital for global communication, transport 95% of international data but face risks of sabotage and geopolitical tension.

The subsea cable industry is shifting towards tech company investments, raising concerns about maintenance underinvestment and redundancy in global connectivity.

Deep dives

Significance of Subsea Cables

Subsea cables are essential for global communication, responsible for transmitting approximately 95% of international internet and data transmissions. These high-capacity fiber-optic lines span thousands of miles across ocean floors, creating critical infrastructure that supports everything from emails to video streaming. The importance of these cables extends to their role in the economy, making their stability vital for maintaining global communications. Despite their significance, they remain vulnerable to sabotage, which can heighten geopolitical tensions, particularly involving countries like Russia and China.

Intro

2min

The Lifelines of Connectivity

14min

Cable Strategy and Corporate Dynamics in the Subsea Industry

2min

The Complexity of Subsea Cable Repairs

12min

Undersea Cable Tensions and Geopolitical Implications

11min

The Future of Subsea Cables

4min

Subsea cables are high-capacity fiber-optic lines laid along the ocean floor to enable global communication by transmitting data between continents. Spanning thousands of miles, they carry an estimated 95% of international internet, phone, and data transmissions.

Critically, these cables are vulnerable to sabotage by state actors, as they form critical infrastructure for global communication and economic stability. Indeed, Russia and China have been implicated in activities targeting subsea cables as recently as November 2024, and experts warn that these networks are likely to be focal points in future conflicts, heightening geopolitical tensions.

Josh Dzieza is a reporter for The Verge and has covered the subsea cable industry and the strategic importance of subsea cables. He joins the podcast alongside Gregor Vand to discuss this invisible, and increasingly important, network infrastructure.

You can check out Josh’s reporting here.

Gregor Vand is a security-focused technologist, and is the founder and CTO of Mailpass. Previously, Gregor was a CTO across cybersecurity, cyber insurance and general software engineering companies. He has been based in Asia Pacific for almost a decade and can be found via his profile at vand.hk.