This takes Risk Assessment to new depths ...

[Flyslinger2]

I'm not savvy with SCUBA gear at all but this sure makes it move up my bucket list.

This article is a good reminder that our "connectedness" just isn't cell towers and wifi.

[Shannon]

Where I work, some branch sites access the internet through the main site, to which they're connected via fiber-optic cables. In the event of the main links breaking, we switch to WiMax links, but these don't offer anything close to the usual bandwidth.

Most employees probably assume they're having a 'bad browsing day,' while those in the IT Department have to find someone to 'splice and dice' the cables, before things slow to a crawl.

Yes, connectivity via cables is something a lot of people take for granted --- until the cables get cut...

[Caute_cautim]

Living in this area myself both Australia and New Zealand are responsible for the Pacific Islands - yes, they do depend on cables, but the majority of the time they depend on Satellite links - they have some of the best bandwidth available via multiple links.  

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/telecommunications/news/article.cfm?c_id=93&objectid=10007155

https://blog.apnic.net/2018/09/18/satellite-still-a-necessity-for-many-pacific-islands/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/101890998/broadband-satellite-to-launch-in-late-2019

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/101890998/broadband-satellite-to-launch-in-late-2019

Plus they have major investment for facilities from China, who then use this for their own purposes as part payment.

However, due to the increased bandwidth comes cybercrime, which is prevalent and seen to be an easy target:

https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/pac-police-meeting-cybercrime/10121876

Have a look at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Cybercrime report for 2018 for example - you will find the majority of the Pacific Islands way down the list in terms of capability.

Regards

Caute_cautim

[DHerrmann]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russian-submarines-are-prowling-around-vital-undersea-ca...

Quoting from the referenced article:

"

Russian submarines have dramatically stepped up ­activity around undersea data ­cables in the North Atlantic, part of a more aggressive naval posture that has driven NATO to revive a Cold War-era command, according to senior military officials.

The apparent Russian focus on the cables, which provide Internet and other communications connections to North America and Europe, could give the Kremlin the power to sever or tap into vital data lines, the officials said. Russian submarine activity has increased to levels unseen since the Cold War, they said, sparking hunts in recent months for the elusive watercraft."

[DHerrmann]

From the BBC:  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-42365191

[Caute_cautim]

I have always believed the original cold war, which apparently ended in 1991, actually ended - more like it simply evolved into something unstoppable and mainly invisible to the public.

Regards

Caute_cautim

[Caute_cautim]

@DHerrmannBut someone is about to state, we can put up more geostationary satellites to compensate - may be not without increasing global warming as well increased air travel.

But it does illustrate how volatile is our dependence on communications systems, which are in themselves subject to potential disruption - once again time and a malaise has settled over the world.

Regards

Caute_cautim

[Caute_cautim]

I have to add this one to my concerns:

So the government of the day, has been sold Digital communications i.e. P25 ACPO, which must be used by all and sundry across all Government departments involved in Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM). 

However, if you cast around the digital communications network in an emergency is highly to fail due to several items:  In a real emergency, there will be no mobile cell network, the batteries run out; EV's will run out of power, there is no normal power source and there is no good resilience within P25 networks.

You can loose one node, and it will fail.   On top of this encryption is required - however, it is highly expensive and itself will fail, if the receiving system is out of range, it fails out of synchronisation.

It falls back to a mobile network or analogue system - so defeating the whole object of encryption and communication.

This situation once again is a prime example of mind ahead of reality, and the implications in a real emergency.

In a real emergency the whole object is to pass vital information efficiently and effectively quickly and smoothly to save lives.  

My case rests for the moment.

Regards

Caute_cautim