Nigeria and ITU Call for Collective Action to Address Submarine Cable Disruptions

The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of Nigeria and the ITU have called for collective action to mitigate submarine cable disruptions during the ITU International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit. With submarine cables comprising 95% of digital economy infrastructure, their reliability is critical to global GDP growth, which is projected to reach $16.5 trillion by 2028. The summit aims to foster collaboration among stakeholders to fortify this essential network.

The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of Nigeria, in association with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), has urged for collaborative efforts to tackle global disruptions of submarine cables. This call was made during the inaugural ITU International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit held in Abuja, emphasizing the vital role submarine cables play in supporting the digital economy.

At the summit, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin highlighted that submarine cable connectivity constitutes 95% of the digital economy’s infrastructure, which has been contributing significantly to the world’s GDP. She noted that the digital economy is projected to reach a staggering $16.5 trillion by 2028.

Bogdan-Martin referred to the rapid increase in internet users — from one billion in 2005 to 5.5 billion at the end of last year — demonstrating a substantial digital evolution that presents both opportunities and challenges. Although submarine cables are foundational to global connectivity, they experience approximately 200 disruptions annually, creating a considerable impact on the global economy.

The Co-Chair of the ITU Advisory Board, Prof. Sandra Maximiano, underscored the economical significance of submarine cables, particularly emphasizing recent incidents in March of last year that affected multiple West African countries. Maximiano pointed out that in regions like West Africa, some areas are dependent on a single submarine cable system, which raises concerns over resilience and connection reliability.

During the summit, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, stated that submarine cable disruptions are a pressing global issue, impacting various sectors from finance to governance. He emphasized that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria is focused on strengthening its digital infrastructure to support overall connectivity and innovation.

Tijani articulated the commitment of the Nigerian government to protect critical national infrastructure and to enhance digital resilience across all sectors, thereby promoting economic transformation through improved connectivity. Furthermore, the outcomes of the summit are expected to shape policy and investment decisions while fostering global collaborations for enduring resilience.

The two-day summit convened over 300 delegates from ITU member nations, along with key representatives from various digital and telecommunications organizations, showcasing a united front in addressing these significant challenges.

In conclusion, the summit highlighted the urgent need for collective international efforts to address submarine cable disruptions, which pose substantial threats to the digital economy’s growth worldwide. With significant predictions about the future of the digital economy and ongoing challenges in connectivity, it is crucial for stakeholders to collaborate on solutions. The initiatives proposed at this summit are expected to influence critical policy frameworks and investment strategies, ensuring enhanced resilience and connectivity in the digital landscape.

Original Source: nannews.ng