The Strait of Hormuz: Could a Cable Cut Kill the Internet?

Key Takeaway: Submarine cables in the Strait of Hormuz carry 97% of global data traffic. A single act of sabotage could paralyse international finance and trigger a global digital blackout.

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The Strait of Hormuz: Global Connectivity at Risk
Strategic Cable Networks
The Threat of Hybrid Warfare
Regional Vulnerabilities
The Double-Shock Scenario
Future Security Priorities
Did You Know?
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The Strait of Hormuz serves as a critical chokepoint for global data. This narrow passage lies between Iran to the north and the UAE and Oman to the south. It connects the Persian Gulf directly with the Gulf of Oman. At its narrowest point, the Strait spans only 33 kilometres.

The Strait of Hormuz: Global Connectivity at Risk

Deep-sea fibre optic cables carry nearly 97% of all international internet traffic. Consequently, any disruption here would trigger a massive global crisis. The following statistics highlight the scale of this hidden infrastructure:

Global Internet Traffic: 97% flows through submarine fibre optic cables.
Active Systems: Over 570 systems globally as of 2025.
Total Length: More than 1.4 million kilometres of undersea cable.
Energy Flow: 20% of global oil and 25% of global LNG pass through Hormuz.

Strategic Cable Networks

According to the TeleGeography Submarine Cable Map, several high-capacity systems transit this region. The following table highlights the most significant networks currently in operation:

Cable System	Route	Significance
SEA-ME-WE 5 & 6	SE Asia → Middle East → Europe	Backbone of Asia–Europe traffic
AAE-1	Asia → Africa → Europe	Major India–Europe link
FALCON	UAE → Oman → India	Directly transits Gulf waters
2AFRICA	Europe → Africa → Asia	World’s longest cable system

The Threat of Hybrid Warfare

Sabotage acts represent a dangerous form of hybrid warfare. As noted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), these actions target the very backbone of our digital world. Therefore, a single cut could instantly paralyse international financial systems. These operations fall below the threshold of conventional armed conflict. However, they cause disproportionate strategic damage to global economies.

“The challenge of attribution provides actors with plausible deniability, as deliberate damage can easily be disguised as accidental anchor strikes.”
— Maritime Security Analysis

The IRGC Navy possesses the maritime capability to execute such strikes. Their fleet includes submarines, remotely operated vehicles, and combat divers. These assets can physically cut or damage cables across the Gulf floor. Furthermore, the challenge of attribution provides Iran with plausible deniability. Saboteurs can easily disguise deliberate damage as accidental anchor strikes.

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Regional Vulnerabilities

India (Critical): Relies on Gulf cables for over 70% of international bandwidth.
Gulf States (Critical): Direct exposure via landing stations and digital economies.
Western Europe (High): Heavy reliance on Asia–Europe data routes.
United States (Moderate): Pacific cables partially absorb traffic.

The Double-Shock Scenario

A deliberate attack creates a terrifying double-shock scenario. The Strait simultaneously handles energy supplies and anchors critical digital routes. Consequently, an incident would spike energy prices while destroying digital infrastructure. This dual crisis would paralyse both physical trade and virtual communication.

Global financial markets remain the most vulnerable sector. High-frequency trading and SWIFT transactions require millisecond latency to function correctly. Thus, even minor disruptions could crash international currency markets.

Future Security Priorities

Satellites handle less than 3% of global traffic. Additionally, these systems suffer from much higher latency. Submarine cables carry almost all voice calls and financial transactions. Thus, the world cannot simply switch to space-based internet. According to the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), governments must prioritise the safety of this hidden infrastructure now. Security teams are already monitoring these vital underwater routes more closely. Ultimately, protecting these cables ensures the stability of our modern digital life.

Did You Know?

While we often think of the internet as being “in the clouds,” 97% of international data actually travels through cables thinner than a VB tinnie at the bottom of the big blue.