Government proposes emergency powers for undersea cables
Ministers want new powers to direct companies during threats to critical subsea infrastructure.
Follow-up to: MPs warn Britain is exposed in the High North Thursday, 22 October 2026, 07:04
The government has proposed emergency powers to protect undersea telecommunications cables from hostile activity and other major disruptions. The measures are part of a White Paper published on Thursday on critical undersea infrastructure security and resilience.
The proposals would allow ministers to require companies to take specified action when necessary and proportionate to protect subsea cable infrastructure and services. The government says the powers are intended to reduce the risk of prolonged disruption to communications.
The government says undersea cables carry most international internet traffic, making them strategically important to the United Kingdom and its allies. The government has linked the proposals to a wider increase in concern about activity around critical infrastructure in and near UK waters.
The government says the White Paper follows warnings from MPs and ministers that Britain is exposed in the North Atlantic and the High North. The proposed power would allow ministers to direct industry to take action to protect cables.
The government has not said that a particular cable has been attacked in the new announcement. Its argument is that the existing legal framework is not sufficiently flexible for incidents that may fall short of an armed attack but could still cause serious economic and national-security damage.
The proposed powers would affect infrastructure operators, telecommunications companies and other businesses involved in maintaining or repairing cables. Ministers say any direction would have to be necessary and proportionate, and say further detail will depend on the legislative process and consultation over the White Paper.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The government published proposals for new powers concerning critical undersea infrastructure.
- The proposed powers would allow specified directions to industry where necessary and proportionate.
- Undersea telecommunications cables are treated by the government as critical infrastructure.
Left
Arguments The state should impose strong duties on private operators and require resilience investment, because communications infrastructure is a public necessity rather than merely a commercial asset.
Values Public ownership of risk, collective security and accountability for essential services.
Consequences Stronger rules may increase costs for operators but could reduce the chance that disruption falls disproportionately on households and public services.
Centre
Arguments A targeted power is reasonable if it is clearly defined, independently scrutinised and used only when ordinary regulation cannot manage the threat.
Values Institutional safeguards, proportionality and continuity of essential services.
Consequences A carefully limited framework could improve resilience without giving ministers unchecked control over private infrastructure.
Right
Arguments The government should prioritise deterrence, intelligence and defence rather than burdening companies with open-ended obligations or allowing bureaucratic intervention in commercial decisions.
Values National sovereignty, operational effectiveness and limited government.
Consequences A narrower approach may protect investment and speed decisions, but could leave gaps if threats develop faster than existing law.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article is based on the government’s White Paper and a parliamentary statement published on 22 October. The distinction between proposed powers, existing concerns and confirmed incidents is maintained.
- confirmed The government published a White Paper on critical undersea infrastructure security and resilience on 22 October 2026. — Confirmed by the UK Parliament written statement. source
- confirmed The proposals include a power to direct industry to take specified action where necessary and proportionate. — Stated in the parliamentary summary of the White Paper. source
- confirmed The announcement does not identify a new cable attack. — The published statement describes risks and proposed legislation but does not announce a new attack. source
Editor's note
The new development is the White Paper and its proposed national-security power. Earlier concerns about exposure in the High North provide context; no new cable attack was announced.Sources
The story so far
- Thursday, 22 October 2026, 07:04 MPs warn Britain is exposed in the High North
- Thursday, 22 October 2026, 18:02 Government proposes emergency powers for undersea cables (this article)
More on this in other media
- The Independent — „undersea cables”
- BBC News — „undersea cables”
- The Guardian — „undersea cables”