“The ANU [Australian National University] National Security College paper says the 16 privately owned subsea cables that carry 99 per cent of Australia’s internet traffic are a ‘high priority target’ for Australia’s adversaries that could be severed in a conflict, threatening the nation’s economy and social fabric.”
“Despite the risks to Australia’s digital arteries, Australia has no sovereign cable repair vessel or stockpile of spares and equipment, the ANU report says. Australia relies on repair vessels based in Fiji, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia.”
” ‘It is notable that cable repair vessels that cover cables landing in Australia are stationed considerable distances away. Spares depots are also located at considerable distances from Australia,’ the paper says. ‘All cable repair vessels are also operated by foreign companies with mostly foreign crews. While these arrangements do not now involve Chinese-operated cable repair vessels, the Australian government may not currently have the authority to prevent that from occurring’.”
“The damage to the cables off Perth – within an offshore cable protection zone – was ‘very concerning’, SUBCO founder Bevan Slattery said. ‘This may be a coincidence but it’s important for the Australian Federal Police to investigate the issue urgently’.”
“More than half of cable landing points have no legal protection zones, and there is bureaucratic confusion as to who is in charge of protecting the nation’s digital links to the outside world.”