Making Tech Headlines · Page 3
Ships Linger Near Internet Cables, Giving the Cloud a Seabed to Worry About
· New York time
Iran-linked ships have lingered near subsea internet cables in the Gulf of Oman, according to reporting based on tracking by maritime intelligence firm Windward. Iran has threatened to attack such cables if the United States escalates military strikes again. The ships' presence is a possible indication of preparations, not proof that an attack has occurred or will occur. The Financial Times reported that Windward tracked three sanctioned tankers and an Iranian fishing boat near major cables in October. Six active cables cross the Strait of Hormuz, linking the Middle East with Europe, Africa and Asia; two more have segments under construction in the region. The concentration makes the area important to communications well beyond the ships themselves. International data networks depend on physical routes, and a threat to those routes can concern operators and customers far from the water. It also connects the issue directly to the possibility of renewed US military escalation. For an industry that sells computing as a cloud, the scene is a reminder that the service has a remarkably heavy address. The cables sit on the seabed, while ships can make their presence felt simply by remaining nearby. It is a geopolitical message delivered at the speed of a vessel that does not seem eager to leave.
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