Shaping the Future of Subsea Telecoms
Grant-funded research, addressing critical challenges in global digital infrastructure
Projects
The SubOptic Foundation conducts applied research to explore key issues in global subsea telecom infrastructure. Funded by grants, our studies result in best practice reports designed to inform subsea cable companies, operators, governments, and other stakeholders. By sharing findings through media partnerships and industry events, we help advance industry knowledge and drive meaningful change. Our research evolves to meet the industry’s most pressing challenges.
Current focus areas include:
Sustainable Subsea Networks
Investigating and enhancing the sustainability of the global subsea telecommunications network.
Strategic Resilience Project
Enhancing network security and reliability, with a focus on the Caribbean.
Sustainable Subsea Networks
Our first phase of the project, from 2021-2023, generated a Report on Best Practices in Subsea Telecommunications Cable Sustainability, and the first Congress on Sustainability in the subsea industry at SubOptic 2023. In the second phase of the project, from 2023-2025, we are pleased to release the following documents that support metrics in subsea cable sustainability.
Sustainable Subsea Networks Report
Sustainable Subsea Networks, a research initiative of the SubOptic Foundation, is an academic-industry collaboration to enhance the sustainability of subsea telecommunications cables. This report is the culmination of two years of research conducted between 2021 and 2023 on the subsea cable industry’s best practices in sustainability.
Sustainable Subsea Networks Map
In collaboration with TeleGeography, we developed a Sustainable Subsea Networks Map. This map represents the best practices of twenty companies involved in the construction, operation, maintenance, or recovery of subsea cables. It offers a snapshot of the diverse contributions of this global industry.
Congress on Sustainability
The SubOptic Foundation Congress on Sustainability, an event that made subsea history as the first intentional gathering of members from across sectors and around the world to discuss metrics for sustainability in the subsea cable industry. It gathered industry leaders to share insights from ongoing initiatives and potential strategies for the cable networks of the future.
Sustainable Subsea Networks Report
In Phase 2 of the Sustainability Project, SubOptic members have come together to lead Working Groups focused on developing sustainability metrics for subsea cable systems. These groups are tackling different aspects of the overarching goal to create more sustainable subsea networks.
Report on Best Practices in Cable Landing Station Sustainability
This report summarises findings from the first collaborative survey of cable landing station sustainability in the subsea industry. It provides guidance to sustainability frameworks, standards, best practices, and metrics that may be applied to the CLS.
Marine Vessel Emissions Worksheet
This output of the Sustainable Subsea Networks Marine subgroup offers vessel emissions scenarios for a transatlantic and transpacific subsea cable.
Cable Working Group
Led by Emmanuel Danjou of ASN, the Cable working group is developing a carbon footprint for a transatlantic and transpacific subsea cable. Suppliers from across the industry have worked collaboratively with academic researchers to develop shared models.
CLS Working Group
Led by Vedrana Stojanac of Ciena, the Cable Landing Station (CLS) working group is developing a series of papers documenting metrics for the facilities that support subsea telecommunications cables. Members of the industry presented along students at Submarine Networks World in Singapore.
Marine Working Group
Led by René d'Avezac de Moran of OMS, the Marine working group is developing a common set of data on emissions generated by different marine activities.
Recovery & Recycling Working Group
Led by Simon Appleby of Subsea Environmental Services, Alwyn du Plessis of Mertech Marine, and Bobby Melville of OEC, the Recovery and Recycling working group is developing a white paper on the operating environment for companies working in cable recovery and recycling, including its challenges and benefits. They are also calculating the emissions savings for recovery and recycling in a peer-reviewed study.
Strategic Resilience in the Caribbean:
A Landmark Subsea Cable Study
How resilient is the Caribbean’s digital backbone? With 99% of international data traveling through subsea fiber-optic cables, any vulnerability is a risk to regional stability. Our latest report, "Strategic Resilience in the Caribbean," provides a first-of-its-kind roadmap to securing this critical infrastructure.
Developed by the SubOptic Foundation (US), this study marks the culmination of a year of intensive research into the region’s digital future. Funded by a grant from the Internet Society Foundation (ISOC Foundation), and assessed in a rigorous peer-review process, the report moves beyond technical fixes to offer a holistic "Strategic Network Resilience" framework. Featuring in-depth case studies on several Caribbean islands, it outlines how state cooperation and stakeholder collaboration can safeguard the region’s digital future.
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Support Our Mission
As we conclude this first phase, we are actively seeking partners to help us scale. We encourage our members to consider grant matching to help us secure Phase 3 funding and offer opportunities to emerging young leaders in the region.
The Voices Behind the Research
The SubOptic team collaborated with young people across the region who were selected as part of the Youth Advisory Board. These emerging leaders conducted research and outreach on network resilience.
Federica Tortorella
Federica Tortorella is a lawyer and digital rights enthusiast based in the Dominican Republic. She holds a Master Degree in Risk...
Luis Torres
Luis Torres is a 17-year-old high school student from the U.S. Virgin Islands, born in St. Croix. Having lived in Florida, Puerto...
Aidé Carrillo
Aidé Carrillo is an optical pre-sales engineer at Nokia, based in Mexico City. During her college years, she participated in initiatives...
Ari Shaw
Ari Shaw is a communications specialist with nearly a decade of experience in journalism, public relations, and media strategy....
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Bernisha Moreau
Bernisha Moreau is a student from the Commonwealth of Dominica, currently studying Computer Science and....
Resilient Digital Infrastructure Fellowship
Putting the Report’s recommendations into action, the SubOptic Foundation (US) is currently looking for emerging leaders in the region for the Resilient Digital Infrastructure Fellowship.
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