By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Nigeria’s Minister of
Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has marked
the conclusion of the International Advisory Body (IAB) on Submarine Cable
Resilience, describing it as a major milestone in global efforts to strengthen
the digital infrastructure that underpins the world's communications networks.
The initiative, led by the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable
Protection Committee (ICPC), concluded its mandate during the World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026 in Geneva.
Tijani said the initiative
was launched following the widespread submarine cable disruptions experienced
in March 2024, which affected connectivity across several countries, including
Nigeria, prompting discussions on strengthening the resilience of global subsea
infrastructure.
He noted that what began as
discussions with ITU Deputy Secretary-General Tomas Lamanauskas evolved into a
broad international collaboration involving governments, regulators, industry
leaders, technical experts, international organisations and members of the
global submarine cable community.
According to Tijani, the
International Advisory Body and its three specialised working groups developed
practical recommendations aimed at helping governments, regulators, network
operators and international partners improve preparedness, response and recovery
from future submarine cable disruptions.
He said the recommendations
provide a framework for enhancing coordination and reducing the impact of
disruptions affecting submarine cable systems, which form the backbone of the
global digital economy.
Tijani emphasized that the
success of the initiative will ultimately be measured by the implementation of
its recommendations and their ability to strengthen the resilience of
international communications infrastructure rather than by the meetings or reports
produced during the process.
He expressed appreciation to
his co-chair, Professor Sandra Maximiano of Portugal’s National Communications
Authority (ANACOM), ITU Deputy Secretary-General Tomas Lamanauskas, the
International Cable Protection Committee, members of the International Advisory
Body and its working groups, and the ITU team for their contributions to the
initiative.
Although the International
Advisory Body has completed its mandate, Tijani said international efforts to
build more resilient and secure global digital infrastructure will continue as
governments and industry work to implement the recommendations developed
through the initiative.
