Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and ITU deputy Secretary General Tomas Lamanauskas. (Image: Supplied)

Representatives from over 50 countries have converged in Nigeria for the inaugural International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit that kicks off today, in Abuja.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced its two-day summit will focus on issues around protecting the integrity of critical subsea cable infrastructure and preventing disruptions, as was experienced last year.

Bosun Tijani, Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, said the Western African country was ready to host the delegates.

“Nigeria is leading the global conversation on this critical discourse. I am grateful for the leadership of the ITU and welcome our delegates from other member countries as they converge in Abuja over the next couple of days,” he said.

Tijani, who also co-chairs the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience, underlined that submarine telecom cables serve as the lifelines of the global digital economy, facilitating over 99% of international data exchange.

At the launch of the advisory body, late last year, the ITU also stressed that submarine telecommunication cables form the backbone of global communications. “They carry most of the world's Internet traffic and enable critical services across the globe, including commerce, financial transactions, government activities, digital health and education,” it said in a statement.

ITU deputy Secretary General Tomas Lamanauskas joined Tijani yesterday to reiterate the importance of the summit in ensuring the global connectivity infrastructure’s stability and security. He told assembled media that disruptions to submarine cables have, in the past, paralysed fintech sectors, social media and other critical sectors.

The ITU expects delegates to explore cable resilience by promoting best practices for governments and industry players to ensure the timely deployment and repair of submarine cables. It has repeatedly underlined that the multistakeholder dialogue, including governments, regulatory authorities, industry leaders, submarine cable experts, and international organisations, is vital for enhancing the resilience of submarine telecom cables in safeguarding the digital future and global economic stability.