Japan Plans $630M Support for Undersea Cable Ships Amid Rising Risks
Japan's internal affairs ministry will request $630M in fiscal 2027 to help acquire 3-5 undersea cable ships, addressing growing risks.
Japan is preparing to allocate around $630 million to support the purchase of vessels used for laying and repairing undersea communication cables, according to a report by Nikkei. The move comes as concerns grow over the security and reliability of submarine cable networks.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications plans to include the spending in its fiscal 2027 budget request, which is due at the end of August. The ministry aims to assist in the acquisition of three to five cable ships through this initiative.
Undersea cables carry the vast majority of global internet traffic, making them critical infrastructure. Japan's push to strengthen its cable maintenance and deployment capacity reflects broader worries about potential disruptions from natural disasters, accidents, or deliberate sabotage.
By supporting the procurement of these specialized vessels, Tokyo hopes to reduce dependence on foreign-operated ships and ensure faster response times when cables are damaged. The budget request is part of a larger effort to enhance the resilience of Japan's digital communications backbone.