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Iran has hinted at imposing fees on undersea internet cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This may affect the internet connectivity and digital services of many countries including India along with companies like Google, Meta and Amazon.

Technology: Amidst the increasing tension between Iran and Western countries, a new concern has come to light regarding the undersea internet cable network. According to reports, Iran is preparing to impose license fees and controls on submarine internet cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Experts believe that this may affect global internet traffic, cloud services and digital connectivity of many countries including India.

Important internet cables pass through Hormuz route

Iran has indicated to increase control over internet cables laid under the sea. According to reports, Tehran is preparing to impose fees on undersea cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz and impose new rules for their operation.

Iranian officials say that operators associated with these cables will have to follow local laws. Also, repair and maintenance work on cables can be limited to Iranian companies only. This area is considered an important route not only for oil supply but also for digital data transfer between Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Possible impact on companies like Google, Meta and Amazon

Many services of global tech companies depend on undersea cable networks. A large part of services like Google Search, WhatsApp, Instagram, Amazon Cloud Services and Netflix Streaming operate through these cables.

Experts say that if additional controls or constraints increase on cable networks, internet speeds, data transfers and cloud services may be affected. This is likely to increase pressure on international digital businesses and online platforms.

Internet speed and connectivity may be affected in India

This sea route is used extensively for data transfer between India, Asia and Europe. In such a situation, if there is any kind of technical or political obstruction in this area, then internet services in India may slow down or may be affected for some time.

According to experts, ships repairing undersea cables have to stay at one place in the sea for a long time. This process can be risky in conflict areas. At present it is not clear to what extent Iran will implement this plan, but the increasing tension has definitely increased the concern about the global digital infrastructure.