Australia’s connection to the global digital network is as slender and fragile as a garden hose, a lifeline that stretches across the ocean floor, vulnerable to the whims of nature and the machinations of humankind. This undersea infrastructure, often out of sight and mind, is the unsung hero of our modern connectivity, but it faces threats that could disrupt our way of life in the blink of an eye.
Imagine a world where your emails vanish into the ether, your favourite streaming services freeze indefinitely, and vital military communications are silenced. This isn’t the plot of a dystopian novel; it’s the potential reality if Australia’s undersea cables were to be compromised. These cables are the arteries of the internet, pulsing with data that connects us to the rest of the world.
Australia’s digital lifelines, 15 known cables, emerge from the sands of Sydney and Perth, diving into the ocean’s abyss, reaching depths of up to 8 kilometres before surfacing in far-flung locales like Singapore, Oman, and Hawaii. They are the silent sentinels of our cyber security, carrying 99% of the nation’s data, including emails, entertainment, and sensitive government information.
Yet, these cables are not impervious to harm. They are susceptible to accidental damage from fishing activities, anchors, and natural geological events like underwater landslides or volcanic activity. More sinister are the risks of intentional sabotage, as seen in the recent suspected attacks on cables in the Baltic Sea, which have heightened concerns about the security of these critical infrastructures.
The geopolitical landscape is as turbulent as the ocean’s depths, with Australia’s cables caught in the crosscurrents. The recent damage to cables connecting Finland, Germany, Sweden, and Lithuania, coinciding with the passage of a Chinese-registered ship, has sparked fears of deliberate interference. Sweden’s Prime Minister has even declared the Baltic Sea a ‘high-risk’ zone.
Australia is not immune to these threats. The nation’s reliance on undersea cables is only set to increase, with digital technology contributing a staggering $167 billion to the economy annually. The cables are not just economic conduits; they are vital for national defence and intelligence sharing, particularly within the Five Eyes alliance. Any disruption could have severe geopolitical repercussions for Australian security.
Despite the buzz around satellite technology, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, these celestial alternatives cannot match the sheer capacity and speed of undersea cables. They remain the backbone of the internet, capable of transmitting up to 300 terabits of data per second, a capacity that is ‘virtually limitless’.
The fragility of this system was starkly illustrated when Tasmania’s connection to the mainland was severed, and Tonga was left in a digital blackout for weeks due to cable damage. These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the potential chaos that could ensue if our undersea cables were to be cut.
In response to these vulnerabilities, Australia is taking steps to bolster its digital defences. The Australia Connect project by Google Cloud aims to weave new connections through Christmas Island and Fiji, enhancing the resilience of the nation’s digital connectivity. The government has also committed $18 million over four years to a cable connectivity and resilience centre, a strategic move to engage the region and counterbalance China’s influence.
Yet, the cables themselves are not under Australian ownership. They belong to telecommunications companies and ‘hyperscalers’ like Amazon, Meta, and Google, adding another layer of complexity to the geopolitics of the Pacific.
Protecting these cables is a daunting task. While Australia has designated cable protection zones, simply marking these areas may inadvertently guide potential saboteurs to their targets. Determining whether the damage is accidental or intentional is a challenge, muddying the waters of attribution and response.
The undersea cables that connect Australia to the world are a testament to human ingenuity and our quest for connectivity. But they also highlight our vulnerability. As we navigate the murky depths of international relations and technological dependence, the security of our digital lifeline remains a paramount concern.
