SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Ministry of Communications | Department of Telecommunications (DoT) | Digital Communications Commission (DCC)
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) has convened the second International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in Porto, Portugal from 2 -3 February 2026— towards a unified global effort for undersea assets. Carrying over 99% of international data traffic, the 1.7 million kilometers of global submarine cables are increasingly vulnerable to fishing, anchoring, and geopolitical risks. The Porto Summit marks a transition from high-level intent to actionable cooperation, aiming to establish international standards for cable protection and rapid repair protocols.
Key Focus Areas and Collaborative Mechanisms The summit utilizes the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience, a 42-member group led by Nigeria and Portugal, to drive practical solutions. Key objectives include:
Streamlining Regulations: Reducing permitting barriers that delay repair vessels, especially in sensitive regions like the Red Sea.
Enhancing Redundancy: Mitigating risks for countries dependent on single cable landing points to prevent total digital isolation.
Aligning Public-Private Interests: Coordinating with private cable owners and vessel operators to ensure infrastructure investments meet national security needs.
India’s Strategic Engagement Reflecting its status as a major global data hub, India is a significant participant in these deliberations. A high-level delegation, including members of the Digital Communications Commission (DCC) and senior officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), will engage in the summit’s “Security of Connectivity” tracks. India’s focus remains on advocating for regional maintenance hubs in the Indian Ocean and integrating submarine cable protection into its broader maritime security and “Digital India” frameworks.
What is the role of the “International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience” meeting in Porto? The Advisory Body is a strictly practical group comprising governments, cable operators, and technical experts. Its primary role in Porto is to finalize evidence-based recommendations for the “Summit Declaration,” which will outline global commitments to protect undersea arteries from physical damage (like trawling) and ensure rapid cross-border access for international repair ships during digital emergencies.
Policy Relevance
The Porto Summit 2026 underscores the transition of submarine cables from commercial assets to sovereign strategic infrastructure.
Maritime Legislative Alignment: The summit’s focus on legal tools pushes countries to update their maritime laws to recognize “Cable Protection Zones,” reducing accidental breakages from commercial activity.
Regional Maintenance Clusters: India’s interest in the summit aligns with its goal to become a regional “Service and Repair Hub” for the Global South, leveraging its coastal infrastructure to secure Indo-Pacific data transit.
Economic Security: By addressing single-point-of-failure risks, the policy aims to safeguard the global AI and cloud economies, which require uninterrupted high-speed connectivity to function.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the Department of Telecommunications leverage the “Porto Summit Declaration” to create a domestic ‘fast-track permit’ system that allows pre-cleared maintenance vessels to operate within India’s EEZ without standard bureaucratic delays?
Follow the full news here: https://www.itu.int/hub/2026/02/the-world-is-coming-together-to-strengthen-submarine-cable-resilience/