International Cable Protection Committee

The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), the world’s leading organisation promoting submarine cable protection and resilience, recently held its annual Plenary session in Singapore with over 200 delegates from around the world under the theme ‘ensuring a connected future.’ A cornerstone event for the organisation, the ICPC Plenary attracted global attendance and provided valuable opportunities to exchange ideas on the planning, installation, operation, protection, and maintenance of cables, as well as recovery and recycling of out of service cables. The well-attended event provided an opportunity to learn from colleagues facing similar challenges, and to get up to date with environmental and legal aspects of submarine cables via presentations, round tables, keynote interviews, exhibits and networking opportunities.

Keynote speaker Ambassador Rena Lee, President of the United Nations Intergovernmental Conference for the BBNJ negotiations, CEO of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024, discussed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty and its progress.

Guest speaker Ms Aileen Chia, Director-General, Telecoms and Post, at IMDA Singapore, provided insights into how Singapore is actively advancing their digital connectivity blueprint, which includes data centers and the networks that interconnect them, overland and undersea.

This year’s Plenary included a one-day law of the sea workshop jointly organised by the ICPC and the Centre for International Law of the National University of Singapore with support from Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Singapore and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The goal of the workshop was to discuss prospects for collaboration between governments and industry on the laying, repair, protection, and security of submarine cables. The workshop brought together representatives from the submarine cable industry, academia, and more than 50 government delegates from ASEAN countries, to consider how these challenges can be addressed under existing international law (or its absence) through increased collaboration between the cable industry and governments.

At the conclusion of the Plenary, it was also announced the 2025 annual event will be held in Montréal, Québec, Canada. For further details about the 2024 ICPC Plenary, read all the highlights here.

About the ICPC: To promote submarine cable protection and resilience, the ICPC works with its members, governments, international organisations, other marine industries, and the scientific community to: mitigate risks of natural and human damage to cables; develop recommendations and best practices for industry and governments throughout the cable project life cycle; promote scientific research addressing how cables exist in the marine environment; and promote the rule of law for the oceans. The ICPC has more than 215 member organisations from 70 countries who build, operate, and maintain submarine telecommunications and power cable infrastructure. To learn more about the ICPC, visit: www.iscpc.org or send an e-mail to secretariat@iscpc.org.

PORTSMOUTH, United Kingdom—The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), the world’s leading organisation promoting submarine cable protection and resilience, notes with concern reports of submarine cable damage in the Red Sea. Consistent with ICPC’s Government Best Practices for Protecting and Promoting Resilience of Submarine Telecommunications Cables, the ICPC urges operators to investigate the causes of damage to Red Sea cables and engage with governments about the implications of such damage. The global submarine cable network of more than 400 cable systems and 1.5 million kilometres of submarine cables cross the oceans worldwide. This network underpins our daily lives, carrying more than 99% of all digital data traffic worldwide, including the Internet. On average around 150 faults occur each year, which are mostly due to accidental human activities such as fishing and anchoring.

The ICPC also urges governments to coordinate with operators to identify and mitigate causes of damage, expedite permits for repairs, and provide security for vessels engaged in such repairs.

About the ICPC: To promote submarine cable protection and resilience, the ICPC works with its members, governments, international organisations, other marine industries, and the scientific community to: mitigate risks of natural and human damage to cables; develop recommendations and best practices for industry and governments throughout the cable project life cycle; promote scientific research addressing how cables exist in the marine environment; and promote the rule of law for the oceans. The ICPC has more than 215 member organisations from 70 countries who build, operate, and maintain submarine telecommunications and power cable infrastructure. To learn more, send an e-mail to secretariat@iscpc.org.

Abstracts Due, Friday 26th January 2024

Formerly named the ‘Call for Papers,’ ICPC is very pleased to announce the issuance of the 2024 ICPC 'Call for Presentations’ for the forthcoming Plenary that will take place in Singapore at the Orchard Hotel from 30th April – 2nd May 2024.

Under the theme ‘Ensuring a Connected Future,’ ICPC seeks presentation abstracts highlighting the following cable protection concepts:

• Applying new and emerging technologies
• Learning from project case studies
• Understanding emerging issues, challenges, and proposed solutions
• Operating in crowded marine areas
• Managing increasing regulation
• Defining sustainability in relation to cable protection

Read all the submission details in the ‘Call for Presentations’ two-page document.