Iran demands Big Tech pay fees for undersea Internet cables in Strait of Hormuz
Ars Technica • • nation
Key Points:
- Iran announced plans to charge US tech companies fees for using and maintaining undersea Internet cables running beneath the Strait of Hormuz, a key digital chokepoint in the Gulf region.
- The majority of these cables pass through Oman-controlled waters, raising questions about how Iran would enforce such fees; Iranian state media named Meta, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft as targets for licensing charges.
- The ongoing war and regional hostilities have halted cable repair projects and increased risks of damage, with Iran’s threats prompting tech firms and Gulf countries to pursue alternative overland Internet routes bypassing the Strait.
- Undersea cable repairs in the area are vulnerable to delays and attacks, as specialized ships face threats from Iranian missiles, drones, and patrols, potentially leaving faults unrepaired and infrastructure at risk.
- Efforts to develop overland fiber-optic links through Iraq and neighboring countries aim to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, though such projects face their own geopolitical challenges amid regional tensions.