Rui Faria, an esteemed member of the executive board and the Chief Commercial Officer at Angola Cables, has been appointed to the newly established International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience, which consists of 42 distinguished members.
This significant development was recently announced by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for digital technologies, in collaboration with the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC). The ICPC is a notable industry group dedicated to the protection and resilience of submarine cables.
The importance of subsea cables and their associated equipment cannot be overstated. These infrastructures form the backbone of the global digital economy, facilitating over 99% of international data exchanges. They are pivotal in enabling seamless communication, financial transactions, cloud services, and essential infrastructures to function effectively across international borders.
Despite the indispensable role these cables play, they are susceptible to various threats, including natural disasters and unintentional damage caused by human activities. Given the world’s increasing dependence on stable and high-speed internet connectivity, ensuring the resilience and protection of submarine cables from both natural and anthropogenic threats has become a matter of critical importance.
Upon his nomination, Rui Faria expressed the significance of the Advisory Body in safeguarding the future integrity of these vital intercontinental undersea cables. He highlighted the essential role that this body will play in maintaining the robustness and reliability of global communication networks;
As a company, Angola Cables has been actively providing technical support to a comprehensive scientific research initiative conducted by the Department of Geography and Earth Science at Durham University in the United Kingdom. This project focuses on understanding the causes and impacts of naturally occurring cable failures, particularly those that have transpired in the Congo River Canyon Crossing in West Africa.
With the anticipated increase in the number of submarine cables being deployed in the future, it becomes imperative to enhance efforts in identifying and mitigating accidental damages or other existential risks that could adversely affect submarine cable networks. This underscores the crucial nature of the tasks undertaken by this multi-stakeholder advisory body.
The formation of the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience thus represents a proactive step towards fortifying the global digital infrastructure against potential disruptions, ensuring continuous and reliable connectivity for the international community.
