A new parliamentary report has raised alarm over the vulnerability of Britain’s undersea internet cables, warning that the country could face “catastrophic disruption” if they are sabotaged.
These subsea cables are the hidden lifeline of modern society. They carry almost all of the UK’s international data traffic from WhatsApp messages and video calls to banking transactions worth billions of pounds. Without them, communication, financial systems, and critical services could collapse within hours.
The Joint Committee on National Security Strategy has criticized the government, led by Sir Keir Starmer, for being “too timid” in its approach to defending this essential infrastructure. Lawmakers are calling for stronger deterrence measures, including:
- Acquiring a dedicated cable repair ship by 2030
- Training Royal Navy personnel and reservists to conduct cable repairs in wartime
- Imposing punitive consequences on hostile states or groups that damage cables
The concern isn’t theoretical. Security experts warn that adversaries like Russia could use civilian vessels to deliberately damage cables, disguising it as an accident. Given Moscow’s growing hostility towards NATO, some analysts believe the UK is a likely target in any future crisis.
Matt Western MP, chair of the committee, explained:
“Undersea cables are the invisible backbone of the internet. While our national connectivity isn’t in immediate danger, the scale of our reliance means the government must prepare for the possibility of disruption.”
Analysts like Alan Mendoza of the Henry Jackson Society and Richard Tice of Reform UK echoed these concerns, stressing that any attack on this “informational artery” could cause chaos from halting global banking operations to cutting off everyday online access.
In response, the Ministry of Defence said it is already taking steps, pointing to:
- Nordic Warden, a UK-led system to monitor threats to subsea infrastructure
- The RFA Proteus, a new high-tech vessel designed to protect undersea cables
- Atlantic Bastion, a network of advanced sensors tracking submarines above and below the seas
Officials insist the UK is working with allies to boost security and resilience around the clock.
Still, many critics argue that the measures do not go far enough, warning that hostile actors could exploit this weak spot faster than the government can respond.
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