The UN's technology agency, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has established a new global body to enhance protection and repair of submarine cables that carry over 99% of the world's international data.

The formation of this new entity follows a series of cable failures that impacted various sectors ranging from government communications to everyday internet usage.

The new group, named the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience, comprises of 40 public and private sector experts from around the world, including government representatives, telecom companies, and submarine cable operators.

Deputy Secretary-General of the ITU, Tomas Lamanauskas, said the creation of this body is poised to address key issues related to cable maintenance and resilience, thereby accelerating repairs and ensuring uninterrupted services.

Lamanauskas also noted that the new body would efficiently handle disruptions irrespective of the cause, through expedited service restorations and permit issuances.

A follow-up summit is planned in Nigeria in February.

- CyberBeat