Iran plans fees on US tech firms for undersea cables amid ongoing conflict

Daily Kos reports that Iran claims it will charge US technology companies fees for using undersea internet cables that run beneath the Strait of Hormuz shipping lanes amid ongoing conflict and heightened tensions in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz remains less accessible than earlier in the year, affecting countries like Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, which rely entirely on these subsea telecommunications connections to maintain links with the outside world. Additionally, about one third of India’s westbound internet traffic passes through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the strategic importance of these cables.

One of the cables under construction, the 2Africa cable, is owned by a tech consortium that includes the US company Meta. This corridor has recently seen activity from Iran-linked ships, according to Daily Kos.

The conflict has involved limited US military strikes against Iranian targets, while Iran has increased attacks on commercial ships to pressure the United States. October marked the highest number of ship attacks since the war began, according to Windward.