Could the internet be the next strategic resource to face disruption after oil and gas? As tensions rise in the Gulf, the possibility is no longer hypothetical.
A New Front in Geopolitical Conflict
For decades, global anxieties around the Gulf have centered on oil tankers, shipping lanes, and energy security. Today, that focus is expanding into a less visible but equally vital domain: the internet. Iran’s widening conflict posture has introduced a new concern—that undersea data cables, the backbone of global connectivity, could become deliberate targets. This signals a shift from conventional economic pressure points toward digital infrastructure, marking a sophisticated evolution in asymmetric warfare.
Why the Strait of Hormuz Is Digitally Critical
The Strait of Hormuz is widely recognized as the world’s most crucial energy chokepoint, but its significance extends beneath the surface. Running along and around this narrow waterway are submarine fibre-optic cables that carry the overwhelming majority of international internet traffic—estimated at 95–99 percent. These cables link Europe with Asia and facilitate enormous volumes of data exchange, including financial transactions, government communications, and cloud services.
For countries like India, a substantial portion of internet connectivity to Europe passes through routes near the Gulf. This makes the region not just an energy hub, but a digital crossroads. Any disruption here would ripple across continents.
Targeting the Invisible Infrastructure
Recent commentary linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with regional intelligence reports, has drawn attention to specific cable landing stations and cloud infrastructure hubs in Gulf nations such as the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. While Tehran has not issued an official declaration of intent, analysts consider the threat credible.
Unlike oil facilities, undersea cables are difficult to monitor and protect comprehensively. They are also highly vulnerable. Damage—whether from sabotage or military action—can be hard to detect immediately and even harder to repair, particularly in conflict zones.
The Real Impact of a Cable Disruption
Contrary to popular fears, cutting a few cables would not shut down the global internet. However, the consequences would still be significant. Data traffic would need to be rerouted through alternative pathways, many of which are already under strain due to geopolitical tensions in adjacent regions like the Red Sea.
The result would likely include slower internet speeds, increased latency, and sporadic outages. Critical sectors such as banking, cloud computing, government operations, and e-commerce could face disruptions, particularly in South Asia and the Gulf. Even partial outages lasting weeks could strain economies and complicate diplomatic efforts during already volatile periods.
Naval Strategy and Prolonged Risk
This digital threat is unfolding alongside Iran’s broader maritime strategy, which includes the deployment of advanced naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Military assessments suggest that clearing such mines could take months, prolonging instability even after active conflict subsides.
Compounding this uncertainty are signals from global political leadership indicating no clear timeline for de-escalation. The absence of a defined endgame raises the likelihood that both physical and digital disruptions could persist, reinforcing each other in a multi-domain pressure campaign.
A Fragile Digital Future
The potential targeting of undersea cables underscores how deeply interconnected modern geopolitics and digital infrastructure have become. What was once an invisible layer of globalisation is now a strategic vulnerability. As nations recalibrate their security priorities, safeguarding data routes may soon be as critical as protecting oil supplies. The Gulf, long a symbol of energy geopolitics, may now define the future battleground for control over the world’s information lifelines.
(With agency inputs)
