Most of us imagine the internet as something invisible, data flying through the air from our phones to the cloud and back. But the truth is far less glamorous and far more physical: over 95% of global internet traffic actually travels through thick fiber-optic cables buried under the ocean floor. These undersea internet cables are the real backbone of the internet, and right now, they’re at the heart of a quiet but very real power struggle between governments and Big Tech.
Before I started looking into this, I barely gave these cables a thought. But once you understand what’s at stake, it’s hard to look at your internet connection the same way. These cables carry nearly everything—WhatsApp messages, bank transfers, satellite data, video calls, even military communications. They’re a kind of global nervous system, and whoever controls them has serious leverage over the rest of us.
Tech companies aren’t just building apps—they’re building roads
For most of the internet’s history, undersea cables were built by telecom companies working with governments. But that’s changing fast. Companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft are now laying their own cables. In fact, Google has invested in more than 20 undersea systems already, including Equiano, which runs from Portugal down to South Africa via Nigeria.
At first glance, this sounds like progress. Who doesn’t want faster, cheaper internet? But the more you think about it, the more you realize the implications. These companies aren’t just improving infrastructure—they’re starting to own the infrastructure. That means they get to decide who connects, how much it costs, and what data flows through which routes. They say it’s about better service, but it’s also about control. And that should matter to all of us.
Cables are becoming political targets
This is not just a corporate story; it’s geopolitical. Governments are now treating undersea cables as national security assets. There have been mysterious outages, like the ones in the Red Sea in early 2024, which some suspect were sabotage. Countries are starting to worry that rivals could cut cables during a conflict or use them to spy.
The US and its allies have blocked Chinese firms from participating in certain cable projects, fearing surveillance risks. China, meanwhile, is building its own parallel systems, trying to reduce reliance on Western routes. What we’re seeing is a kind of internet version of the Cold War, where trust, access, and alignment are all in play.
What about countries like mine?
Living in Nigeria and watching the Equiano cable land on our shores, it’s easy to feel hopeful. Improved internet speeds, more bandwidth, lower costs—that all sounds great. But it also leaves me asking: Who owns this access? And who decides what happens if there’s a dispute?
For many African countries, Big Tech is filling a gap that local governments and telcos haven’t been able to cover. But that also creates a dependency. If one company controls most of our connectivity, it can dictate the terms. And if there’s a political disagreement or a technical restriction, what happens then?
We’ve already seen how quickly platforms can be turned off, blocked, or changed without much warning. Imagine that happening to the cables themselves.
The quiet infrastructure war that affects everyone
What’s happening with undersea cables may seem far away or too technical to matter. But the consequences are closer than most people think. This infrastructure isn’t neutral. It shapes access, speed, security, and sovereignty. Whether you’re in London, Lagos, or Los Angeles, this hidden battle affects your digital life.
Governments are trying to catch up. Some are building their own cables, and others are tightening regulations. But it’s clear that the future of the internet isn’t just about software or apps—it’s also about hardware, geography, and power.
And honestly, the more I learn about it, the more I realize this is not just a tech issue. It’s about how the modern world runs, and who gets to control it.
