Submarine cables are essential for global connectivity and are evolving to assist in environmental monitoring through the deployment of SMART cables, which gather critical ocean data. Despite the benefits, adoption is hindered by outdated regulations, financial concerns, and security risks. Countries like Portugal are leading the way in investing in such technologies to enhance climate science and mitigate risks associated with climate change.
Submarine cables play a vital role in global connectivity and technological advancement, a legacy dating back to the first cable laid across the Atlantic in 1858. Recently, Meta announced plans for the world’s longest submarine cable, Project Waterworth, spanning 50,000 kilometers and linking five continents. This initiative aims to enhance connections in countries such as the United States, India, and Brazil.
Currently, there are approximately 1.4 million kilometers of submarine cables, which facilitate data transmission at impressive speeds of up to 300 terabits per second. Beyond telecommunications, a new generation of cables, particularly SMART cables, is emerging as significant tools for environmental monitoring. These cables incorporate sensors to gather essential data related to seismic activity, temperature changes, and pressure variations, benefiting early-warning systems for natural disasters and tracking climate change effects.
The SMART initiative is a collective venture involving the International Telecommunications Union, the World Meteorological Organization, and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Countries like France and Portugal are investing in such cables, and the European Commission is supporting SMART projects to bolster broader infrastructure efforts.
Despite the potential, the adoption of these sensing cables has been slow due to several obstacles. Firstly, existing regulations governing undersea cables are outdated and do not encompass cables designed with environmental sensors, complicating the permitting process. Secondly, a lack of a clear business model raises financial feasibility concerns for operators, as integrating sensors can add significant costs without guaranteed revenue.
Moreover, there are apprehensions regarding security risks associated with the installation of sensors in these cables. Some nations may misconstrue them as surveillance tools, raising the threat of attacks from malicious entities. The urgency for better ocean data is critical; industries reliant on marine resources could benefit significantly from the insights provided by SMART cable data, while scientists seek improved data to better understand climate change impacts.
Nevertheless, the regulatory environment poses challenges to the deployment of sensing technologies. If regulations were revised, initiatives like Project Waterworth could seamlessly incorporate sensors. Experts suggest treating the project as multiple cables, allowing for the strategic placement of sensors in less politically sensitive areas to create a shared database for ocean observation data.
Portugal exemplifies a successful approach to investing in SMART cables despite regulatory hurdles, serving as a model for other nations committed to supporting infrastructure that benefits the public. Although embedding sensors in cables may not wholly resolve climate change issues, it represents a meaningful step toward understanding the evolving dynamics of our oceans, underscoring the urgent need to address our planet’s environmental challenges.
Submarine cables represent a dual opportunity for enhancing global communication and advancing climate science through environmental monitoring. However, the slow adoption of SMART cables due to outdated regulations, uncertain business models, and security risks hampers progress. Successful examples like Portugal’s investment in environmental cables underscore the importance of collective efforts to update regulations and promote sustainable infrastructure. In doing so, nations can harness new technologies to better understand and confront the pressing issues of climate change.
Original Source: eveningreport.nz
