Iran will impose fees on subsea internet cables in Strait of Hormuz
2 days ago
- #geopolitics
- #security
- #technology
- Iran is seeking to charge major tech companies, like Google and Microsoft, for using subsea internet cables under the Strait of Hormuz, threatening disruptions if fees are not paid.
- The plan involves licensing fees and giving repair rights exclusively to Iranian firms, though enforcement is uncertain due to U.S. sanctions and unclear cable routes in Iranian waters.
- Targeting these cables could cause widespread digital disruptions, affecting global data transmission, financial systems, and internet connectivity, especially in the Middle East and Asia.
- Iran's strategy aims to leverage its geographic control over the strait to impose economic costs and deter attacks, supporting regime survival.
- While most cables avoid Iranian waters, a few, like Falcon and GBI, pass through them, making them potential targets for asymmetric attacks using naval assets.
- Historical precedents exist for cable warfare, and damage could be severe, though current cables under the strait account for less than 1% of global bandwidth.
- Iran cites international law (UNCLOS) to justify charging fees, drawing parallels to Egypt's revenue from cables in the Suez Canal, despite legal differences.
- Cable repairs in the region are challenging due to the war and limited maintenance ships, increasing risks of prolonged outages if damage occurs.