Indonesia Warns Undersea Cable Cuts Could Threaten Singapore's Internet

Published 2026-11-01

Indonesia's Communications Minister, Meutya Hafid, has warned that cutting undersea internet cables could seriously disrupt Singapore's internet connection. According to the report, the warning points to a risk that could affect around 80 per cent of Singapore's connectivity.

Undersea cables are long lines of fibre-optic wire on the seabed. They carry most of the world's internet data, including messages, video calls, online banking and cloud services. Because Singapore is a major communications hub in Southeast Asia, many of these cables pass through the waters around the region. This means that damage to a single cable can have effects far beyond the place where it is cut.

The minister's comments highlight how important it is to protect these cables. Damage can happen by accident, for example from ship anchors or fishing equipment, or it can be caused on purpose. Governments in the region have become more concerned about the safety of this infrastructure in recent years, as more of daily life depends on fast and reliable internet.

For people in Singapore, the main concern is that a major cable cut could slow down or interrupt online services for many users. Businesses, schools and government services all rely on stable connections. Experts generally say that networks are designed with backup routes, so a single cut does not usually cause a total shutdown. However, the warning shows that regional cooperation on cable protection remains an important issue.

Sources: VnExpress International

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