Fast Facts

• Over 99% of global internet and phone data travels through undersea cables.
• The Space&Underwater Conference takes place December 3 in Rome and online, featuring top government, military, and industry experts.
• Cybersecurity in space and underwater domains directly impacts national, European, and global security.
• Speakers include ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and leading executives from Leonardo, Prysmian, and Thales Alenia Space.
• The event highlights the growing risks and strategic importance of both the New Space Economy and Underwater Economy.

Introduction: The Invisible Web Beneath and Beyond

Imagine the world’s digital heartbeat pulsing silently beneath the ocean waves, while satellites orbit overhead, weaving a second, unseen net around the planet. Tomorrow in Rome, the Space&Underwater Conference pulls back the curtain on these parallel worlds-where the vulnerabilities of undersea cables and satellites are converging into the new frontlines of cyber conflict.

Why Space and the Deep Sea Matter Now

In today’s hyper-connected world, the security of our internet, banking, defense systems, and even democracy hinges on two often-overlooked domains: the depths of the oceans and the vastness of space. Nearly all global data-emails, financial transactions, government communications-travels through undersea cables, while satellites manage everything from GPS to military reconnaissance. A single breach, whether by hostile states or cybercriminals, could disrupt economies or cripple entire nations.

Recent years have seen a surge in attacks targeting these infrastructures. In 2022, European authorities quietly investigated suspected sabotage of undersea cables off Norway, while cyber intrusions against satellite networks have made headlines, most notably during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, when satellite internet was disrupted by sophisticated malware. These incidents underscore a chilling reality: both domains are increasingly strategic, yet remain highly vulnerable.

Conference Spotlight: Who’s On Deck and What’s at Stake

The Space&Underwater Conference, organized by Cybersecurity Italia, assembles a powerhouse roster: ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, European Commission tech sovereignty leaders, Italian military brass, and CEOs from giants like Leonardo and Prysmian. Their mission: to forge new alliances and strategies for defending the digital arteries of our world.

Topics on the table range from the technical-such as hardening the fiber-optic cables that snake across the ocean floor and shielding satellites from hacking-to the geopolitical, including Europe’s push for digital sovereignty and the rise of the so-called “New Space Economy.” Industry leaders will unveil projects that blend AI, encryption, and physical security to protect critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, startups will pitch innovations designed to outpace ever-evolving cyber threats.

Hidden Connections: The Cybersecurity Challenge

What makes these domains so intertwined is their role as enablers of global commerce and security. Think of undersea cables as the world’s digital plumbing, and satellites as its nervous system. Any weak link-whether a vulnerable cable junction or a poorly secured satellite-can be exploited, turning invisible infrastructure into weapons of disruption.

Reports by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) warn that as both domains become more connected and essential, attacks are likely to increase in sophistication and impact. The market for cybersecurity solutions in these sectors is booming, but so is the complexity of the threat landscape, with state actors, criminal syndicates, and “hacktivists” all vying for a piece of the action.

WIKICROOK

• Undersea Cables: Undersea cables are fiber-optic lines on the ocean floor that carry most of the world’s internet and phone traffic between continents.
• Satellite Networks: Satellite networks are groups of satellites that collaborate to deliver global communication, navigation, and surveillance services, reaching areas beyond terrestrial networks.
• New Space Economy: The New Space Economy is the commercial market for satellite launches, space data, and related services, expanding beyond government-led space activities.
• Digital Sovereignty: Digital sovereignty is a nation's ability to control and protect its digital infrastructure and data from external threats, ensuring autonomy and security.
• Critical Infrastructure: Critical infrastructure includes key systems-like power, water, and healthcare-whose failure would seriously disrupt society or the economy.