Submarine Cables: State of the Art and Future Challenges

Submarine cables play a crucial role in the underwater and hydrographic sectors. They are essential for transferring massive volumes of data among nations and continents, for reaching the common goal of global connectivity. However, these cables are highly vulnerable due to numerous factors that threaten their integrity. In recent years related threats have become increasingly important, and accidents can cause total or partial communication disruptions, leading to internet outages and power supply interruptions. A new domain is arising inside underwater domain: the seabed domain that became a geopolitically crucial area, where laid infrastructure’s protection is fundamental to global security. The analysis of geopolitical and hydrospatial data are the essential elements on the route engineering to mitigate the risks. This review aims to present a scenario about the evolution of submarine cables and to highlight their strategic role as underwater structures linking multiple locations.