Subsea Cable Vulnerability

Will O'Brien discusses the vulnerability of subsea data cables and the emerging trend of underwater data centers, highlighting how these critical infrastructure elements face increasing security threats.

Key Points:

• Subsea Data Infrastructure Evolution:

  • Initially built by telecom companies in the 1980s
  • Now transitioning to being built by big tech companies (FAANG)
  • Soon AI companies will likely lead development

• Underwater Data Centers:

  • Microsoft pioneered experimental underwater data centers
  • YC startup Network Ocean (founded by Sam Mendel) is building and operating subsea data centers
  • These centers are planned to be fully subsea (underwater)
  • Will's company Ulysses aims to be a servicing partner for maintenance and inspection

• Critical Vulnerability of Subsea Cables:

  • Only about 600 active cables globally despite carrying enormous data volumes
  • Limited redundancy in the system
  • Approximately 11 cables have been cut by foreign actors in the past year
  • Cables are difficult to lay, making quick replacement challenging

• Strategic Military Implications:

  • Cables connect military bases and provide critical communications
  • In conflict scenarios (e.g., South China Sea), cutting these cables would be a primary target
  • Disrupting communications could "completely scramble understanding and situation awareness"
  • Combined with electromagnetic interference, this could prevent effective military response

• Foreign Threats to Cables:

  • China openly advertises deep-sea cable cutters
  • Chinese vessels conduct suspicious "fishing missions" in areas like the Baltic Sea
  • These activities appear to be deliberate cable-cutting operations

• Defense Strategy:

  • Better to defend existing cables than try to lay redundant ones
  • Need persistent unmanned water drones "century style" monitoring systems
  • Systems must be cheap to deploy at scale across vast ocean areas
  • Must monitor both surface and subsea activities