Submarine cables connect disparate regions across continents. Since the first ever submarine cable that was laid in 1850s to transfer telegraphic notes between countries, the underwater cable network has expanded. Currently there are 426 submarine cables (in 2021) spread over more than 1200,000 kilometres; few of these are less than 70 kilometres long while the others are nearly 15,000 kilometres long. If one looks at submarine cable map, the densest regions are between Europe and America, Southeast Asia, East Asia and the Indian Ocean region. It is widely acknowledged that laying of the submarine cables is a costly and complicated affair and millions of dollars are required to lay these.

The global community is concerned about dominance of China in laying submarine cables particularly catering to the intercontinental internet traffic. In 2021, the Chinese government owned telecommunication companies laid more than 31 new undersea cables beyond the Chinese shores. Both state government and private players are involved in laying the cables.

China is making aggressive moves to gain sizeable proportion of global undersea cable networks. Chinese company Huawei Marine has been instrumental in repairing nearly 100 undersea cables including several in the Southeast Asian region. Even though the company is listed in the ‘Entity List’ of the US Department of Commerce restricting the sale of goods and technology to the company, it is still sought after.

This clearly shows that the Chinese government is trying to dominate the open internet and even initiate a new kind of information war which might be an extension of its Belt and Road Initiative in digital domain in terms of control of information and communication networks.

The China Mobile, China Unicom, China telecom, CITIC telecom international, and a company from Macau are major companies engaged in the business of underwater cable networks. In fact the connection between Hong Kong and mainland China is also controlled by State Grid Corp of China, a Chinese state owned company. Chinese mobile controls cable touche Singapore, Malaysia China and US.

China telecom is planning to put a Asia-wide cable network to connect with Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore. Obviously there are issues related to the laying of the submarine cables in the context of dominating the cyber space and information warfare.

China is also trying to connect the islands in South Pacific and has proposed to build a cable network to connect Kiribati, Micronesia and Nauru at a cost of US $72.6 million. This network can potentially threaten US military base at Guam which is critical for American’s military deployments targeted against China. Apprehensions have also been raised with regard to the Chinese interception of information and data which is transferred between California to Hong Kong. In order to counter Chinese projects, in 2018 Australia decided to build an undersea cable project to the Solomon Islands.

Likewise, Japan has laid several undersea cables that connect with many Southeast Asian countries. India has recently connected the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with mainland India. This endeavour was supported by Japan and it is seen as one of the major areas where the Quad countries would be cooperating in future. Other ccompanies such as AT&T of the US, Airtel of India and new stakeholders such as Google and Facebook have also tried to dominate this unique venture.

The Quad member countries, among other areas of convergences, have decided to cooperate in critical technologies, composite materials, and undersea cable networks. One of the important underwater cable network which needs to be protected from Chinese companies is in Oceania. Japan, the US and Australia have decided to finance the undersea internet cable to Palau. Japanese company NEC which is involved with connecting US mainland with Singapore is expected to undertake laying this undersea cable network as well. It is useful to mention that Palau is also one of the few countries which recognises Taiwan.

The Quad countries have already undertaken an informal agreement for developing their own 5G networks and also countering Chinese ventures into undersea technology through unmanned submersible projects.

The US and Japanese companies currently hold 70 per cent of the fibre optic submarine cable market. Australia has been the pioneer in developing regulatory frameworks for the security of undersea cables. India itself is a major transit point for the undersea cables crisscrossing between Europe, Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia and therefore it is critical for the future plans for the Quad countries.

In the Indian Ocean, China has undertaken a major undersea cable project connecting Pakistan and East Africa with Europe. This cable network which is known as PEACE and runs nearly 13,500 kilometres connecting Gwadar port to Djibouti, parts of Kenya, South Africa and Marseille in France. Another project will connect 23 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, and West Asia would be completed by a consortium of China mobile international and other companies of these countries.

However, for the protection of the free and open information and developing the critical undersea cable networks, Quad countries need to work on strengthening legal frameworks, developing monetary and security architecture, financial support and engaging private sector in developing these networks. In essence, undersea cable network would be another frontier for power struggle between Quad countries and China.

Dr. Pankaj Kumar Jha is Professor of Defence and Strategic Studies, JSIA, Jindal Global, University, New Delhi.