The Hidden Network Enveloping the World: Submarine Fiber Optic Technology and Digital Geopolitics

Abstract

In the digital era, security paradigms are rapidly evolving from physical domains toward cyber and data infrastructures. At the center of this transformation are submarine fiber-optic cables, which carry approximately 99% of global communications and data traffic. These cables are not merely technical communication lines; they have become strategic components of states' intelligence capabilities, power projection, and geopolitical influence. Over the past decade, the Mediterranean basin has witnessed a new geopolitical architecture shaped by energy and digital infrastructure projects. Through initiatives such as the Blue-Raman cable and the EuroAsia Interconnector, Israel has become a significant hub in regional digital networks, gaining not only communication advantages but also new opportunities for signals intelligence. Turkey occupies a central position in one of the region's most critical digital corridors, serving as a natural transit route for Asia–Europe data flows with simultaneous access to the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Seas. Maritime jurisdiction agreements with neighboring states have expanded Türkiye’s maritime authority and its influence over energy and fiber-optic cable routes. NATO, the European Commission, and the Joint Research Centre classify Türkiye's maritime zones as high-value areas for digital infrastructure security. Nevertheless, initiatives such as the EastMed Gas Forum and cable projects excluding Türkiye seek to redirect regional data traffic through alternative routes as part of an infrastructure-based containment strategy, forming a multilayered order aimed at constraining Türkiye’s cybersecurity role and intelligence capabilities. As of 2026, escalating conflicts and the targeting of critical infrastructures have transformed these systems into emerging security vulnerabilities for states.