Protecting hidden infrastructure: The security politics of the global submarine data cable network
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Protecting hidden infrastructure : The security politics of the global submarine data cable network. / Bueger, Christian; Liebetrau, Tobias.
In: Contemporary Security Policy, Vol. 42, No. 3, 03.07.2021, p. 391-413.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Protecting hidden infrastructure
T2 - The security politics of the global submarine data cable network
AU - Bueger, Christian
AU - Liebetrau, Tobias
PY - 2021/7/3
Y1 - 2021/7/3
N2 - Undersea communication cables are the core critical infrastructure of the digital age. 99% of all transoceanic digital communication—financial transactions, emails, or voice messaging—is transported through undersea fiber-optic cables. The global submarine cable network is a critical infrastructure that does not receive the analytical attention it deserves. We argue that cable security is a core dimension of current and future international security governance. We present the first systematic survey of the academic discourses that investigate the politics, governance, and protection of submarine data cables. Three rather narrow literatures study the cables (1) as under threat from hybrid warfare and terrorism, or treat the cable network narrowly as a (2) technical or (3) regulatory problem. We demonstrate the need for broadening out the research agenda and addressing key questions of security governance and geopolitics of this increasingly critical infrastructure.
AB - Undersea communication cables are the core critical infrastructure of the digital age. 99% of all transoceanic digital communication—financial transactions, emails, or voice messaging—is transported through undersea fiber-optic cables. The global submarine cable network is a critical infrastructure that does not receive the analytical attention it deserves. We argue that cable security is a core dimension of current and future international security governance. We present the first systematic survey of the academic discourses that investigate the politics, governance, and protection of submarine data cables. Three rather narrow literatures study the cables (1) as under threat from hybrid warfare and terrorism, or treat the cable network narrowly as a (2) technical or (3) regulatory problem. We demonstrate the need for broadening out the research agenda and addressing key questions of security governance and geopolitics of this increasingly critical infrastructure.
U2 - 10.1080/13523260.2021.1907129
DO - 10.1080/13523260.2021.1907129
M3 - Journal article
VL - 42
SP - 391
EP - 413
JO - Contemporary Security Policy
JF - Contemporary Security Policy
SN - 1352-3260
IS - 3
ER -
ID: 321487988