G-7 to support deep-sea cable network for emerging nations

Digital chiefs to outline financial assistance with World Bank at Japan meeting

Private-sector interests have been responsible for developing 90% of undersea cables since 1990. (Rendering courtesy of Sun Cable)

MAYUMI HIROSAWA and RYOHEI YASOSHIMA, Nikkei staff writersApril 26, 2023 01:08 JST

 

TOKYO -- Digital and technology ministers from the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations will adopt a plan for building a network of undersea communication cables to serve developing and emerging countries, Nikkei has learned.

The G-7 ministers meet this weekend in Takasaki, a city northwest of Tokyo. With a common understanding of the need for a free and open digital infrastructure, they will outline an expanded framework for supporting developing and emerging nations in an action plan and joint statement.

The group will work together on this effort with the World Bank, the International Telecommunication Union and private sector telecom operators. G-7 nations and international institutions will provide money for underwater cable projects that have been unable to receive sufficient investment from private interests.

Underwater cables date to the 19th century and are considered the arteries of the global communication network. Japan relies on deep-sea cables for 99% of its international telecommunication needs.

The issue of secure routes for the cables has taken on urgency due to the geopolitical risks posed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the frictions between the U.S. and China. Laying down undersea cables for emerging nations also has become a political priority for Beijing.

Last year, Senegal connected to the island nation of Cape Verde through a submarine cable. Cape Verde is a cable hub linking African nations to Europe and South America.

Leading the Senegal-Cape Verde project was HMN Technologies, a former subsidiary of Chinese telecom equipment giant Huawei Technologies.

Amid China's activities in this field, and in the interest of economic security, the G-7 will show its willingness to support digital infrastructure for emerging and developing countries that share democratic values.

"It's critical to strengthening involvement in developing telecommunication infrastructure for developing nations," Takeaki Matsumoto, Japan's minister for internal affairs and communications, told Nikkei in an interview. "As [this year's G-7] host nation, we intend to take the lead on this issue."

Developing a secure network that bypasses Russia has become urgent. The Arctic region would provide the shortest route to connect Japan with North America and Europe, and such links are expected to provide faster transmissions.

Undersea cables are at risk of being severed. In Taiwan, internet cables connecting to outlying islands have been cut frequently, and many suspect Chinese involvement in those incidents. Last fall, submarine cables in Scotland and the French city of Marseille were damaged.

Sabotaging undersea cables is a military tactic dating to World War I. Nowadays, underwater drones can be deployed to target cables. A diverse network is seen as crucial to maintaining lines of communication during wars or disasters.

Private sector interests have been the main actors installing underwater cables. Business consortiums have been behind an estimated 90% of the submarine cable projects since 1990.

But private investments in undersea cables have lagged for Pacific island nations. The underwater volcano that exploded in Tonga last year damaged the country's sole international telecom cable.

Tonga was virtually cut off from the world for a time, and experts blamed this on the lack of other cables.

The G-7 anticipates supporting developing nations with readiness for natural disasters. This will include wireless communication as well as underwater cable links. This weekend's joint statement is to adopt a vision for sixth-generation communication standards, which are expected to arrive around the end of the decade.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Telecommunication/G-7-to-support-deep-sea-cable-network-for-emerging-nations

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