What Would Really Happen If Russia Attacked Undersea Internet Cables

Fiber optic cables are responsible for connecting approximately 95% of all transoceanic communications around the world. 2018 reports from US Navy officials indicate that Russia has been “snooping” near these cables. However, it is important to note that such activities may not constitute an effective attack vector for the United States’ strategic competitors. Despite their vulnerability to damage, fiber optic cables on the ocean floor are designed to be highly resilient and can quickly re-route traffic in the event of a disruption. Additionally, these cables often experience frequent outages due to various reasons, and traffic is typically rerouted through alternate cables or even different oceans.

Even in the unlikely event that a foreign actor successfully severed all of the cables connecting the United States to other continents, the impact on communications across the North American continent would be minimal. This is due, in part, to the US’s relatively independent internet infrastructure. Consequently, the attacking country would likely suffer more harm than the US due to the loss of communications originating from within the US. However, smaller countries with a limited number of choke-point cables that route their internet traffic may be more vulnerable to such attacks. This was evidenced in 2011 when an accidental cable cut caused the entire country of Armenia to lose internet access for five hours. Therefore, while such an attack may not be feasible for the US, it could potentially constitute a significant threat to smaller countries that rely heavily on a limited number of choke-point cables.