The Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have called for collective efforts to address the growing challenge of submarine cable disruptions, warning that such incidents could slow down global digital economic growth.
The appeal was made on Wednesday at the inaugural ITU International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in Abuja.
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The event brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for protecting the world’s undersea communication infrastructure, which serves as the backbone of the digital economy.
Speaking at the summit, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin stressed the urgent need for global cooperation to safeguard submarine cables, which account for 95% of global digital connectivity.
According to her, the rapid growth of the digital economy depends on the resilience of our submarine cable networks.
She said disruptions to these critical infrastructures pose serious risks to economic progress worldwide.
Bogdan-Martin highlighted that the digital economy is projected to reach $16.5 trillion by 2028, making it a dominant force in the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). She noted that while technological advancements over the past two decades have created vast socio-economic opportunities, they have also introduced new challenges that require proactive solutions.
The summit aims to drive international policies and technological innovations that will strengthen the security and sustainability of submarine cable networks, ensuring uninterrupted digital connectivity across the world.
“The number of internet users in 2005 during the world summit stood at one billion.
“At the end of last year, we had 5.5 billion internet users, and today, the global digital economy is growing faster than global GDP and is expected to reach 16.5 trillion U.S. dollars by 2028.
“Over the next decade, it is estimated that more than two-thirds of the new value creation could come from digitally-enabled companies.
“This global undersea network is emblematic of the innovation and the investment required to connect the world meaningfully,” Bogdan-Martin said.
She further noted that despite the resilience of undersea cables, about 200 disruptions were witnessed yearly, while fixing them across continents and countries is difficult and slow.
Bogdan-Martin said that the global economy felt the impact of submarine cable cuts and disruptions.
According to her, submarine cables are put in place by an interplay of technology, business, and policy that has to be considered holistically.
“That is why this summit includes a diversity of stakeholders that are essential to this conversation,” she said.
Also, the Co-Chair of the Advisory Board for ITU, Professor Sandra Maximiano, highlighted the importance of the board for the submarine cable business and economy at the summit.
“It is no coincidence that we are meeting here in Abuja today, given that several cable cuts occurred in March last year, affecting multiple countries in West Africa, including Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, and Senegal.
“This incident highlighted the critical importance of subsea cable businesses in this region, with some estimates indicating that over 70 million customers were infected.
“Nigeria is served by several submarine cable systems, many of which also land in my home country, Portugal, including Maniwari.
“But the Africa coast to Europe, Etihanu, and to Africa, other Western African countries are served by only a single submarine cable,” Maximiano said.
The Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who spoke earlier, said that submarine cable disruption was a global imperative.
Tijani said that it affected the financial market, trade, education, health systems, and even governance, adding that it was not a technical or industry-specific challenge.
According to the minister, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria is committed to strengthening its digital infrastructure and advancing policies that support connectivity, innovation, and economic growth.
“We are taking decisive steps as a nation to recognise and protect critical national infrastructure, aligning with our broader efforts to enhance digital resilience across all sectors.
“As a government, we are also deeply invested in leveraging digital property infrastructure, promoting global access, and expanding broadband penetration, ensuring that connectivity remains a catalyst for economic transformation and revolution.
“The outcome of this summit will not only influence policy and investment decisions but also serve as the foundation for global cooperation and long-term resilience,” he said.
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