Only 15 known underwater internet cables connect Australia to the world, and they are at risk from fishing boats, spies, and natural disasters.

This week, the Australian government announced it would allocate A$18 million over four years to establish a new center focused on safeguarding the undersea cables vital to the nation’s internet.

The Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre will be responsible for protecting critical undersea telecommunications cables throughout the Indo-Pacific region from deliberate interference by malicious actors and accidental damage.

This initiative is crucial, as the internet contributes over $167 billion annually to the Australian economy, facilitating everything from routine social media updates to massive global financial transactions.

But what is prompting Australia’s urgency to enhance the protection of these essential cables now?