Original article Total Telecom:Read More
NEWS
A new report by the China Strategic Risks Institute (CSRI) reveals that the UK is unprepared for escalating threats from China and Russia targeting undersea internet cables.
The institute analysed 12 incidents between January 2021 and April 2025, and found that eight out of ten suspect vessels were directly linked to China or Russia. These nations are reportedly employing commercial “shadow fleet” vessels to conduct “grey zone” operations.
CSRI claim that the UK is a vital Euro-Atlantic cable hub, but increasingly exposed to threat. Despite this, they argue that:
- International law is outdated and ineffective
- Detection is difficult amid heavy maritime traffic
- The global cable repair industry is dangerously thin
The report is written by CSRI Executive Director Andrew Yeh emphasises the need for the UK to enhance its surveillance and collaborate with experienced partners like Taiwan. It makes three Policy Recommendations around enhancing monitoring and surveillance, strengthening mechanisms for accountability, and improving redundancy, repair and resilience.
Security of subsea infrastructure will be a major theme for Submarine Networks EMEA which returns to London in 2026. Find out more at www.totaltele.com/subnets