Portugal Hosts Global Summit on Submarine Cable Resilience
Portugal hosted the Second International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit on 2–3 February 2026 in Porto, bringing together governments, regulators, industry leaders, and international organizations to advance global cooperation on protecting submarine telecommunications cables — the infrastructure that carries over 99% of international data traffic.
Organized by the ITU and the ICPC and held under the High Patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic, the Summit built on the 2025 Abuja meeting and focused on strengthening regulatory frameworks, accelerating cable repairs, improving risk mitigation, and supporting underserved regions.
Participants endorsed the Porto Declaration, providing non‑binding guidance to enhance international collaboration, promote data‑driven risk prevention, and mobilize sustainable investment to reinforce this critical global infrastructure.
Key outcomes of the Porto Summit:
- Endorsement of the Porto Summit Declaration, which sets out practical, non-binding guidance to strengthen international cooperation and enhance the resilience and protection of submarine cable infrastructure worldwide.
- Approval of the 3 IAB Working Group Recommendations.
- Streamline regulation and coordination to reduce delays and strengthen cross-border cooperation.
- Strengthen data-driven risk prevention through better data, monitoring, and cable protection.
- Accelerate repairs and joint maintenance via clear authority and operational coordination.
- Mobilize sustainable investment for inclusive resilience, especially for small island, landlocked, and underserved regions.
By hosting the Summit, Portugal reaffirmed its role as a strategic Atlantic hub for digital connectivity and a committed partner in advancing resilient, secure, and inclusive global communications.
