EU industry associations call for greater collaboration on subsea cable repair and protection

Damage to this infrastructure, whether through accidental fishing, anchoring, natural hazards or other causes, can disrupt financial systems, energy flows, and digital communications in real-time. Yet, repair operations are increasingly subject to delays, not only due to capacity constraints but also to inconsistent and outdated permitting regimes across EU member states, according to ESCA and IMCA.

Telecommunications cables are currently supported by global maintenance zones and industry-led agreements, which have proven effective in enabling rapid mobilisation. However, the fleet of vessels supporting this model is ageing, with limited investment certainty.