Beneath the Surface: The Undersea Cable Network of the Strait of Hormuz as a Critical Vulnerability in Global Information Infrastructure. A Geopolitical and Cybersecurity Analysis

Beneath the Surface: The Undersea Cable Network of the Strait of Hormuz as a Critical Vulnerability in Global Information Infrastructure. A Geopolitical and Cybersecurity Analysis | Zenodo Skip to main Communities My dashboard Log in Sign up Zenodo is currently experiencing slowness and intermittent outages due to heavy automated traffic from bots and AI crawlers. We are aware of the problem, and our team is focused on stabilizing the service. Thank you for your patience. Journal of Contemporary Academic Research and Methodologies (JCARM) Published May 10, 2026 | Version v1 Journal article Open Beneath the Surface: The Undersea Cable Network of the Strait of Hormuz as a Critical Vulnerability in Global Information Infrastructure. A Geopolitical and Cybersecurity Analysis Authors/Creators Abdussalam Abba Tukur* 1 Abdullahi Hassan Birnin-Kudu Usman Abdullahi Musa Aliyu Mohammed Abali With Appendix Show affiliations 1.

1Department of Information Technology, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. 2Department of Cyber Security, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria 3Department of Computer Science, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Description The Strait of Hormuz has long been recognized as a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil supplies, with approximately 20% of the world's petroleum transiting its narrow waters. However, a parallel and arguably more consequential vulnerability has remained largely absent from scholarly and policy discourse: the concentration of undersea fibre-optic telecommunications cables traversing this same waterway. These cables carry approximately 95% of intercontinental internet traffic, underpinning global financial systems, cloud infrastructure, government communications, and digital commerce. This study conducts a critical analysis of the undersea cable infrastructure in the Gulf region, mapping the concentration of cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz and assessing the geopolitical, economic, and cybersecurity implications of this hidden vulnerability. Employing a qualitative analytical approach grounded in critical infrastructure studies, international relations theory, and geopolitical analysis, the paper examines the dual risks of intentional targeting and accidental disruption of these cables. It argues that the Strait of Hormuz constitutes not only an oil chokepoint but also a "data chokepoint", which is a concentration of information infrastructure whose disruption would have cascading consequences for global digital connectivity, financial stability, and international security. The study contributes to emerging scholarship on critical infrastructure protection, maritime security, and cyber-geopolitics by highlighting a vulnerability that has been systematically overlooked in favour of more visible energy security concerns. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for diversifying cable routes, enhancing physical protection mechanisms, and developing international frameworks for undersea infrastructure protection. Notes Copyright © 2026 by the authors. | Repository URL: https://journal.jcarm.in/index.php/home/issue/archive | Development Status: Active Files Beneath the Surface The Undersea Cable Network of .pdf Files (474.7 kB) Name Size Download all Beneath the Surface The Undersea Cable Network of .pdf md5:b6a430706108a493ba030413334a0bc7 474.7 kB Preview Download Additional details References Arquilla, J., & Ronfeldt, D. (1997). In Athena's camp: Preparing for conflict in the information age. RAND Corporation. Burnett, D. R., & Beckman, R. C. (2021). Submarine cables: The handbook of law and policy. Brill. Clemente, J. (2021). The new masters of the sea: How tech companies are reshaping undersea cable infrastructure. Council on Foreign Relations. Cordesman, A. H., & Al-Rodhan, K. R. (2007). The Gulf military balance: The conventional and asymmetric dimensions. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Greenberg, A. (2023). Tracers in the dark: The global hunt for the crime lords of cryptocurrency. Doubleday. International Cable Protection Committee. (2023). Submarine cable protection and the environment. ICPC. Katzman, K. (2023). Iran: Internal politics and U.S. policy and options. Congressional Research Service. Kelly, P. (2018). Maritime chokepoints: The strategic significance of the Strait of Hormuz. Naval War College Review, 71(2), 45–68. Kraska, J. (2019). International law and the protection of submarine cables. In D. R. Burnett & R. C. Beckman (Eds.), Submarine cables: The handbook of law and policy (pp. 89–112). Brill. Moteff, J., & Parfomak, P. (2004). Critical infrastructure and key assets: Definition and identification. Congressional Research Service. Rinaldi, S. M., Peerenboom, J. P., & Kelly, T. K. (2001). Identifying, understanding, and analyzing critical infrastructure interdependencies. IEEE Control Systems Magazine, 21(6), 11–25. Starosielski, N. (2015). The undersea network. Duke University Press. TeleGeography. (2024). Submarine cable map. TeleGeography. U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2023). World oil transit chokepoints. EIA. Appendix A: Map of Undersea Cables in the Gulf Region (Description) Figure A1: Undersea Cable Network of the Gulf Region The Gulf region's undersea cable network comprises approximately 25 active systems connecting the Arabian Peninsula to East Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean. Key features: Cables enter the Gulf through two primary corridors in the Strait of Hormuz: the western corridor through Omani waters near the Musandam Peninsula, and the central corridor through international waters. Major landing points: Muscat and Salalah (Oman); Fujairah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi (UAE); Jeddah and Dammam (Saudi Arabia); Doha (Qatar); Manama (Bahrain); Kuwait City (Kuwait); Bandar Abbas (Iran). East-West routes: Cables from Europe and the Mediterranean connect to the Gulf via Egypt and the Suez Canal corridor, then traverse the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden before entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. North-South routes: Cables from India and Southeast Asia connect directly to the Gulf, with some traversing the Arabian Sea to Oman and the UAE. Appendix B: Glossary of Terms Term Definition Chokepoint A narrow geographic passage through which significant traffic or infrastructure must pass, creating vulnerability Fibre-Optic Cable A cable containing optical fibres that transmit data using pulses of light Grey Zone Warfare Conflict activity that falls between traditional peace and open warfare, often using ambiguous or deniable means International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) The industry organization representing cable operators and promoting cable protection Plausible Deniability The ability to deny responsibility for actions through ambiguity in attribution Strait of Hormuz The narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, flanked by Iran and Oman Submarine Cable A cable laid on the seabed for telecommunications or power transmission UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is the international treaty governing maritime rights and responsibilities. © 2026 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ ). 403 Views 77 Downloads Show more details All versions This version Views Total views 403 403 Downloads Total downloads 77 77 Data volume Total data volume 41.8 MB 41.8 MB More info on how stats are collected.... Versions External resources Indexed in OpenAIRE Communities Keywords and subjects Keywords Undersea Cables Critical Infrastructure Strait of Hormuz Cybersecurity Maritime Security Geopolitics Information Warfare Critical Infrastructure Protection Details DOI DOI Badge DOI 10.5281/zenodo.20061475 Markdown [](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20061475) reStructuredText .. image:: https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.20061475.svg :target: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20061475 HTML <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20061475"><img src="https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.20061475.svg" alt="DOI"></a> Image URL https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.20061475.svg Target URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20061475 Resource type Journal article Publisher Ivory and Finch Publishers Published in Journal of Contemporary Academic Research and Methodologies (JCARM), 1(3), 458-481, 2026. Languages English Rights License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International The Creative Commons Attribution license allows re-distribution and re-use of a licensed work on the condition that the creator is appropriately credited. Read more Citation Export Technical metadata Created May 7, 2026 Modified May 7, 2026 Jump up About About Policies Infrastructure Principles Projects Roadmap Contact Blog Blog Support Help FAQ Developers REST API OAI-PMH Contribute GitHub Donate Funded by Powered by CERN Data Centre & InvenioRDM Status Privacy policy Cookie policy Terms of Use This site uses cookies. Find out more on how we use cookies Accept all cookies Accept only essential cookies

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