FEATURE GOOD PRACTICES FOR SUBSEA CABLE POLICY
Taking Action To Achieve Digital Inclusion
BY SONIA JORGE, EVELYN NAMARA, AND TAHANI IQBAL
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n today’s globalized world, the ability to access and utilize the internet has become an essential element of economic development, social mobility, and individual empowerment. Bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to the internet is not just a moral imperative; it is a critical step towards achieving a more inclusive and sustainable future for all. While various factors contribute to the digital divide, one key obstacle lies in the infrastructure gap, particularly concerning the lack of adequate subsea cable connectivity in underserved regions. These undersea cables, often referred to as the “backbone of the internet,” carry a staggering 95% of global internet traffic. Submarine cables play a pivotal role in bridging geographical distances, enabling seamless information exchange and fostering global collaboration, fueling digital transformation, and promoting digital inclusion. While the number of submarine cable announcements has been on the rise in recent years, further investments are needed to connect under-connected and under-served countries, particularly those in low- and mid-income markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Enhanced submarine cable connectivity improves international connectivity, and through competition, enables price reductions and access to highspeed, robust internet services. Access to multiple cables in
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a market enhances resilience and strengthens the connectivity infrastructure needed for a truly digital future. With large numbers of users coming online in these countries, more must be done to liberalize these markets to achieve meaningful digital inclusion. Unequal access to subsea cable infrastructure creates significant disparities in internet connectivity across the globe. Policymakers should be motivated to address these challenges if they wish to achieve the dual missions of universal and meaningful connectivity. Investing in subsea cables, therefore, is not just about infrastructure development; it’s an investment in the future of a digitally inclusive world. Recognizing this crucial connection, the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP), a multi-stakeholder coalition dedicated to bridging the digital divide, has developed a policy brief titled “Good Practices for Subsea Cables Policy: Investing in Digital Inclusion.” The brief identifies multiple cases of exemplary regulation and highlights the need for regulatory action in the areas of competition and innovation, regulatory certainty and predictability, and infrastructure maintenance.
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE GDIP POLICY BRIEF
The policy brief emphasizes three key areas where policymakers can take action to promote good practices for subsea cable policy: