Telecommunications Cables: Seas and Oceans
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the UK deploying a sovereign maritime cable repair capability.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan
The Government recognises the importance of a UK-based and UK-flagged subsea telecoms cable repair vessel. This enables a rapid response to cable breaks in UK waters and ensures that vessel is under UK jurisdiction.
DSIT is exploring options for securing UK-based and UK-flagged repair capability for the long term. To date, DSIT has undertaken a period of market engagement, an ‘RFI’ (Request for Information), with a range of organisations active in the subsea repair sector.
We are using this market engagement to fully assess the range of options available to Government and determine next steps
DSIT continues to work closely with the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Defence and other government departments to ensure UK can respond effectively to any disruption affecting the UK’s subsea telecommunications infrastructure.
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