The United States excludes China and Russia from undersea cable projects due to concerns about espionage and sabotage, as reported by webpronews.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has revised rules for laying submarine cables to protect networks through which 95% of the world’s internet traffic passes. The new rules prohibit participation by companies from countries that the U.S. considers potential adversaries, including China, Russia, and Iran.
Submarine cables transmit almost all international internet traffic, and the U.S. fears that China could use its equipment for espionage or sabotage. The new rules simplify permits for allies and introduce strict controls so that no Chinese equipment or contractors touch cables landing in the U.S.
The decision is driven by national security concerns. Previously, incidents of cable damage occurred in the Baltic and Red Seas. Analysts note that Chinese patents for cable-cutting devices have increased fears of possible sabotage.
The changes will affect telecom companies such as Google and Meta, which will have to check their supply chains. This may increase costs and slow down projects. The U.S. is also cooperating more actively with allies to use Western companies instead of Chinese ones.
Experts warn this could lead to the internet splitting into separate zones of influence. The U.S. considers these measures important to protect national security and the resilience of global networks, but critics fear that the restrictions will slow innovation and increase expenses
