International Cable Protection Committee
![Cross section of a submarine telecommunications cable.
1 – Polyethylene
2 – Mylar tape
3 – Stranded steel wires
4 – Aluminium water barrier
5 – Polycarbonate
6 – Copper or aluminium tube
7 – Petroleum jelly
8 – Optical fibers](/Images/godic/202501/20/Submarine_cable_cross-section_3D_plain.svg5546.png")
![The Tyco Responder submarine telecommunications cable ship at dock back in February 2008.](/Images/godic/202501/20/CS_Tyco_Responder-275275546.jpg")
According to the Reliability of Global Undersea Cable Communications Infrastructure (ROGUCCI) report, nearly 100% of the world’s intercontinental electronic communications traffic is carried by the undersea cable infrastructure. Likewise, submarine power cables underpin the global expansion of offshore renewable energy generation. As such, the impact of failures of these critical telecommunications and power cables can be devastating to social and economic stability. This is why submarine cables are classified as “critical infrastructure” that is to be protected from physical damage due to manmade or natural causes.