As wireless connectivity permeates everyday life, the backbone of the internet still relies on undersea cables that stretch across the planet. They are funded, built, and maintained by the largest governments and tech companies in the world, and now the EU is expanding plans to start “cable projects of European interest”.
Supporting the Internet
Even with wireless connectivity possible, sending data along fibre-optic cables is much faster and more dependable. That’s why there are nearly 600 subsea internet cables that span the world’s oceans, connecting continents without the delay of a wireless connection over the same distance.
Those cables support the internet today, namely its ability to connect people from around the world. The internet is the best system for communication and has become the home of commerce for most modern businesses. That also makes it a great marketing tool, best seen in fields like e-commerce or iGaming where there is always a deal customers can get their hands on. Without the internet, it becomes a lot more difficult to host free trials for Amazon services or invite players to try the spin till you win roulette game, or other digital casino games that wouldn’t even exist without the internet. As more businesses and other aspects of life move online, the internet is going to become very important to the economies of Western Europe and the rest of the world.
That’s why the world’s largest tech companies like Google commit a lot of funds to building more of these cables. There are still islands and underserved regions that don’t get high-quality internet or rely on costly wireless/satellite internet services. Most projects are funded by hyper scalers?? high-profile tech companies who spend a lot creating and maintaining online infrastructure around the world, from data centres to these cables. Naturally, the governments of each region have a say in where cables are laid and how, but now the EU wants to take a proactive approach to secure its online infrastructure.
The Digital Networks Act
The EU’s cable plans are part of a larger strategy that will assist European telecom sectors, called the Digital Networks Act (DNA). The DNA was announced by Commissioner for Internal?Market Thierry Breton in 2023, outlining ways the EU can remove obstacles from telecom companies and expand infrastructure. In doing so, they can attract more capital investment into European economies while making the region’s internet infrastructure more secure, and less reliant on other cables outside of their territory. This comes after the EU approved an undersea internet cable connecting to Georgia in 2023, for many of the same reasons.
In support of the DNA, a document was drafted called the ‘Recommendation on the security and resilience of submarine cable infrastructures‘. The?document coins the term Cable Projects of European Interest (CPEI) which are cable projects satisfying any of these conditions:
- Involve at least two member states.
- Connect a member state to an island or overseas territory.
- Enhance connectivity between a member state and accession/neighbouring countries.
With such a massive undertaking, proponents of the DNA say the act won’t officially start until 2025. In the meantime, it is subject to comments and debate between member states and the private sector partners who will be involved with building new cable networks.
Besides new internet cables, others have noted that it presents an opportunity to look critically at existing infrastructure in the EU. For example, the EU still aims to achieve full 5G coverage, so the DNA could also help address infrastructural gaps that have slowed its rollout in recent years.
