With more than 67 percent of the global population now using the internet, it’s fair to say that constant and reliable connectivity is no longer just a convenience - it's non-negotiable. From commerce to communication, the uninterrupted flow of data across borders and continents is crucial for businesses, governments, and individuals alike. Our global economy hinges on a well-functioning Internet.

However, with the growing complexity of digital infrastructure, the risks of network disruption have grown, and prevention is not always possible. For instance, disruptions in the Red Sea earlier this year were reported to have affected 25 percent of data traffic between Europe and Asia—though in reality, that figure is likely a lot higher.

This is where response strategies become crucial. It's not just about quick fixes—it's about designing diverse, resilient routes that keep data flowing, no matter the disruption.

A fragile landscape

Connectivity today relies on an intricate web of cables, spanning thousands of miles, often underwater or across challenging terrains. While these systems enable us to send extensive amounts of data at lightning speeds, they are also highly susceptible to damage. Environmental disasters, geopolitical instability, or even minor physical disruptions can sever connections, leading to significant downtime.

One notable incident occurred in April 2024, when the SEA-ME-WE 5 submarine cable was damaged in the Strait of Malacca. This event temporarily cut off a third of Bangladesh’s international Internet capacity, a stark reminder of the vulnerability of singular subsea routes. The repair process was long and arduous, exacerbated by ongoing political instability in the region, with full connectivity not restored for several months. For countries and businesses reliant on this cable system, the disruption was a wake-up call.

The vulnerability of single points of failure extends beyond cables alone. Entire regions can become bottlenecks, as seen in Egypt, where most of Europe-Asia connectivity passes through two narrow corridors. A break in one of these cables can reverberate across the globe, affecting not just regional users but global networks that depend on these routes for international communication.

Compounding this issue, only a limited number of vessels exist to repair submarine cables, meaning outages can last for weeks or even months, leaving entire regions effectively offline. The interplay of environmental risks, outdated infrastructure, and a lack of new cable routes creates a fragile landscape that demands urgent attention.

Prevention is not enough

While it's tempting to focus on prevention as the ultimate solution, the reality is that certain risks, such as political unrest or natural disasters, are largely beyond the control of network operators. In many regions, the risk of fiber cuts is exacerbated by socio-political conditions. Central Asia, for example, poses unique challenges due to its geographical isolation. With no direct access to subsea cables, countries in this region rely on long, vulnerable terrestrial fiber routes that stretch thousands of kilometers.

Investing in infrastructure that can adapt and respond to these risks is vital. An essential component of this strategy is diversification—ensuring that multiple routes are available in case one of them fails. This diversification is not only about having backups, but also about creating a dynamic and flexible system where data can be rerouted automatically in case of a disruption. For any network operator, a strategy that reduces reliance on single points of failure is key.

Investing in resilience

The lesson here is clear: diversification is a necessity, not a luxury. A network with multiple routes can better weather disruption by offering flexibility and redundancy. For instance, in the event of a cable cut or network issue in one location, traffic can automatically shift to an alternative route, minimizing downtime and maintaining service continuity, ideally using paths providing similar performance so end users barely even register a potentially disruptive event.

Network operators should embrace this philosophy, building and maintaining infrastructure that supports diverse routes across regions. This involves proactive investment in new routes and technologies to ensure that any geographic area is served by at least three distinct pathways.

Reducing the risk of over-reliance on any one route can also help with weather-related or political issues like those previously outlined.

Beyond the hype

There is a temptation within the industry to chase the latest technology, often at the expense of long-term resilience. While the move towards 400G networks might seem attractive in theory, the reality is that many regions are not yet ready to support these advances due to their existing infrastructure. Instead, maintaining and expanding existing 100G capacities across a wider range of routes offers a more practical solution to current connectivity challenges.

This approach is about balance—enhancing performance and capacity while ensuring resilience. Focusing on building more routes, rather than simply upgrading bandwidth, means that network operators can better serve their customers by ensuring uptime and stable connections even during crises.

For progress to be made in building a more resilient global internet, customers—from enterprises to ISPs—must play their part. Ensuring that their network providers offer diverse and redundant routes should be a key consideration in any service level agreement. Additionally, requesting regular updates and resilience reports can help customers understand the steps taken to safeguard against potential disruptions.

Network operators, in turn, must be transparent about the measures they’ve implemented. This includes not only having physical redundancy but also ensuring that flexible architectures allow for swift rerouting of traffic in times of crisis. Systems need to be built in a way that allows for dynamic traffic management, so that data flows seamlessly, no matter what happens in the underlying network.

The road to a secure future

In the end, the need for diversified routes goes beyond surviving the next network outage—it’s about future-proofing the global internet. The risks to our infrastructure will keep evolving, and we’ll continue to face new geopolitical, environmental, and technological challenges.

By committing to diversification and building more resilient systems, network operators can create infrastructure that’s ready and capable of handling whatever comes next.

Route diversification will unlock a more stable, secure, and reliable internet—and it’s a strategy no operator or business can afford to ignore.