Rep. Eli Crane Questions Costs of Protecting Undersea Cables from Foreign Attacks

Undersea Cable Vulnerabilities

• ⚠️ Undersea cables are critical infrastructure, but hardening them along shores is easier than defending those extending to other countries.
• ❓ A key question is whether it's more cost-effective to harden existing cables or to build a larger fleet for cable repair.

Cost Analysis of Cable Protection

• 📊 Approximately 12% of global cable mileage is buried, accounting for 60% of laying costs, typically in shallow areas.
• 💰 Burying cables deeper is prohibitively expensive; building three new cables could offer more resilience than one deeply buried cable.
• ⚓ Steel armoring on cables is primarily for environmental protection (e.g., rock chafing) and will not stop an anchor.
• 🚢 Deep-sea armoring faces physical constraints, including winch power limitations for laying and recovery.
• 🧩 Diversity is identified as the primary method for protecting undersea cable infrastructure.

Strategic Importance and Future Demands

• 🛰️ Developments in China's drone capabilities are compared to a "subsea Sputnik moment", highlighting the urgent need for action.
• ⏳ Failure to protect undersea cables and allies could lead to similar discussions in the future, emphasizing the need for immediate policy action.
• 📈 The demand for bandwidth will increase significantly due to AI, making undersea cables essential for data center investments.
• 🌍 China's "Digital Silk Road" initiative in the Middle East and North Africa requires close attention regarding its growing cable infrastructure.
• ⚖️ There's a need to support international law efforts, such as those by Estonia, Poland, and Finland, to expand the interpretation of defending national sovereignty in the EEZ.
• 📜 Updating penalties in the Submarine Cable Act of 1888 is suggested as a practical first step to deter malicious actors.