Sharm El-Sheikh: A Crucial Hub for Global Undersea Cables

Geography: Sharm El Sheikh as a Bottleneck

Sharm El Sheikh, located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, is one of the key hubs of submarine cable infrastructure. The geographical position of this region makes it a natural "gateway" between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Cables pass through this area, connecting Europe, Africa and Asia, due to the minimal distances and historically established communication routes.

Eighteen submarine cables converge at this location, making it a critical point in the global network. The straits and shallow waters near Sharm El Sheikh contribute to the concentration of cables but also pose potential risks to their integrity.

What Passes Through Sharm El Sheikh

Main trunk cables that provide intercontinental connectivity pass through this point:

• 2Africa (45,000 km): One of the longest cables in the world, connecting Europe, Africa and Asia.
• FLAG Europe-Asia (28,000 km): A major route between Europe and Asia.
• Asia Africa Europe-1 (25,000 km): An important cable linking three continents.
• PEACE Cable (25,000 km): A new cable enhancing data access in Africa and Asia.
• SeaMeWe-6, SeaMeWe-5, SeaMeWe-4: The South-East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe series of cables, ranging from 21,700 to 20,000 km in length.
• Europe India Gateway (15,000 km) and others, including IMEWE, FALCON and Africa-1.

These cables support not only internet traffic but also data transmission for financial services, cloud systems and international trade.

Who Depends on This Hub

A cable break in the Sharm El Sheikh area could significantly impact numerous countries, including:

• European countries: Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom;
• Middle East: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran, UAE, Yemen;
• Asian countries: India, Malaysia, China, Maldives;
• Africa: South Africa.

These regions rely on the stable operation of cables for internet connectivity, financial transactions and cloud services. Even temporary slowdowns or complete outages could lead to significant economic and social consequences.

Risks in the Sharm El Sheikh Zone

Like any major cable hub, Sharm El Sheikh is exposed to a variety of risks:

• Seismic Activity: The Red Sea region lies in a tectonically active zone, which could lead to cable damage from underwater landslides or earthquakes.
• Ship Anchors: Heavy maritime traffic in this area increases the risk of accidental cable damage from anchors.
• Fishing Activity: Deep-sea fishing using trawling nets can damage cables.
• Sabotage: Geopolitical instability in the region makes cables vulnerable to deliberate attacks.
• Communication Anomalies: Over the past 30 days, three round-trip time (RTT) anomalies have been recorded in this area, potentially indicating localized issues.

These factors necessitate constant monitoring and preventive measures to minimize the likelihood of disruptions.

What GeoCables Monitors

GeoCables actively monitors the situation in the Sharm El Sheikh area. Our focus includes:

• The status of the 18 cables passing through this hub, including 2Africa, FLAG Europe-Asia, AAE-1 and others.
• Round-trip time (RTT) for each cable to detect potential deviations.
• Vessel movements near cables to prevent possible damage.
• Geographic and seismic data to forecast potential threats.

These measures help reduce risks and ensure the stability of the global cable infrastructure. However, the concentration of cables in one location remains a vulnerability that requires heightened attention.