Undersea cable security experts from India and Australia converged in Perth on Thursday 31 July, for a high-level 1.5 track Dialogue to discuss policy solutions to better promote Indo-Pacific cable connectivity, resilience and supply chains.
The Australia-India Cables Dialogue: Strengthening Submarine Cable Connectivity, Resilience and Supply Chains was chaired by Dr Samuel Bashfield, Research Fellow and Director of the Security and Geopolitics program at the Australia India Institute, who said as geopolitical tensions rise globally, submarine cable networks are increasingly contested and need to be protected.
"Indo-Pacific nations are responding to emerging seabed threats in myriad ways: including improved cable network surveillance, subsidising regional cable networks and considering investing in sovereign installation and repair capabilities," he said.
"The Ukraine–Russia conflict in Europe has brought seabed warfare to attention, as seabed critical infrastructure has once again become a target in international conflict. Additionally, China is attempting to grow its submarine cable market share through its Digital Silk Road Strategy, thereby introducing data integrity and security risks," he said.
Submarine cable networks underpin global digital infrastructure, carrying approximately 99% of the world's data, meaning they are exposed to both physical and cyber threats.
The Dialogue heard from eminent speakers from the two countries including the CEO of the Australian Telecommunications Alliance Mr Luke Coleman, Dr Pooja Bhatt, Associate Professor from Jindal School of International Affairs, Jindal Global University and CEO of the Australia India Institute the Hon. Lisa Singh.
Discussion themes of the Dialogue included:
- Advancing Australia-India cooperation on the security, resilience, and expansion of submarine cable networks across the Indo-Pacific.
- Addressing emerging strategic risks to undersea cable infrastructure posed by rising geopolitical tensions, seabed warfare, and foreign influence in global cable markets.
- Identifying and assessing connectivity gaps across the Indo-Pacific, with a focus on expanding trusted and secure digital infrastructure.
- Generating concrete, policy-oriented recommendations for government and industry stakeholders in both nations and inform broader Indo-Pacific digital infrastructure strategies.
The Dialogue was hosted by the Australia India Institute, based at the University of Melbourne and the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore.
It was supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership program and the Forrest Research Foundation.
More information : Australia-India Cables Dialogue 2025
