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Telecommunications Cables: Seas and Oceans

Question for Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

UIN HL7988, tabled on 19 May 2023

To ask His Majesty's Government how many transatlantic submarine or pipeline telecommunications cables are in UK public ownership or control.

Answered on

26 May 2023

There are no transatlantic submarine or pipeline telecommunications cables under direct UK public ownership or control. We anticipate this to be the same for other NATO member states, but it would be a matter for NATO member states to confirm.

Subsea cables are privately owned and operated, although governments work with the operators, regulators, international partners and others to assess the overall resilience of subsea infrastructure and respond to high-impact events.