Submarine Cables Market by Application (Submarine Power Cables and Submarine Communication Cables), Voltage (Medium Voltage, High Voltage, and Extra High Voltage), End User (Offshore Wind Power Generation, Inter Country & Island Connection, and Offshore Oil & Gas), Offerings (Installation & Commissioning, Upgrade, and Maintenance), Components (Dry Plant Products and Wet Plant Products), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA): Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032

Submarine Cables Overview

A submarine cable, also known as an undersea cable or submarine communications cable, is a type of cable laid on the ocean floor to transmit data, telecommunications signals, and sometimes electricity between different countries or continents.

Submarine cables are typically constructed with multiple layers of protective materials. The core consists of fiber-optic strands that carry the data, surrounded by layers of insulation, and protective sheathing to withstand the harsh marine environment. Submarine cables can vary in length, ranging from a few hundred kilometers to thousands of kilometers. They can span vast distances across oceans, connecting countries and continents. Submarine cables have a significant data capacity, with some modern cables capable of carrying multiple terabits of data per second.

Global Submarine Cables Market Analysis

The global submarine cable market size was $xx million in xx and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of xx, by generating a revenue of $xx million by xx.

COVID-19 Impact on Global Submarine Cables Market

The pandemic led to a surge in internet usage worldwide as people relied heavily on remote work, online education, entertainment, and communication. This increased demand for data bandwidth put substantial pressure on existing submarine cables to handle the higher data traffic. The pandemic caused disruptions in the global supply chain, which impacted the manufacturing and deployment of submarine cables. Delays in production and installation affected new cable projects. Despite challenges, the demand for increased connectivity during the pandemic also encouraged continued investments in the expansion and upgrading of submarine cable networks to meet growing data needs.

In the post-pandemic period, governments, telecommunication companies, and technology giants are continuously investing in submarine cable projects to enhance global connectivity and data transfer capabilities. The changing data patterns during the pandemic have revealed new routes or regions where additional submarine cables are needed to support emerging markets and data traffic flows.

Rising Demand for Seamless and Reliable International Communication to Drive the Market Growth

As businesses expand globally and people become more interconnected, there is a rising demand for seamless and reliable international communication. Submarine cables provide the backbone for global data transmission and facilitate real-time communication between continents. The ongoing digital transformation across industries and sectors requires robust and efficient communication networks. Submarine cables play a critical role in supporting this transformation by enabling the transfer of massive amounts of data between data centers, cloud services, and users worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work and online education. As these trends continue, the reliance on internet connectivity and the need for robust submarine cables to support these activities will remain high. The rise of cloud computing and the establishment of data centers in various regions require high-speed and low-latency data transmission, which submarine cables can provide. As international trade and economic activities increase, the need for reliable communication for businesses and financial institutions across different countries also grows, driving the demand for submarine cables. In some cases, submarine cables are used to interconnect renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind farms to onshore power grids, thus enabling efficient energy transmission and distribution.

Environmental Impacts on Marine Ecosystems to Restrain Market Growth

Building and deploying submarine cables involve substantial upfront costs, including surveying, manufacturing, laying, and maintenance. The high capital expenditure can be a significant deterrent for new entrants and may limit the expansion of submarine cable networks. The process of obtaining permits and approvals from various national and international authorities to lay submarine cables across different jurisdictions can be time-consuming and complex. Regulatory hurdles can delay projects and increase costs. Submarine cable installation can have environmental impacts on marine ecosystems. Submarine cables are susceptible to damage from fishing activities, natural disasters, and ship anchors. Repairing and maintaining cables in deep-sea conditions can be costly and time-consuming. As technology advances rapidly, there is a risk that newly deployed cables become outdated in terms of data capacity and transmission speeds, leading to potential concerns about obsolescence.

Advancements in Technology to Drive Excellent Opportunities

With the exponential growth of internet users, the proliferation of connected devices, and the increasing use of data-heavy applications like video streaming, cloud services, and IoT devices, there is a constant need for higher data capacity and faster data transmission. Submarine cables can cater to this growing data demand, providing high-speed and reliable data transfer across continents. As emerging markets continue to develop and expand their digital infrastructure, there is a rising demand for reliable international connectivity. Submarine cables can unlock new opportunities in regions where connectivity was previously limited, facilitating economic growth and technological advancement. As older submarine cables reach the end of their operational life, there will be opportunities for replacement and upgrades, offering newer technologies and higher data capacities to meet the current and future demands.

Global Submarine Cables Market Share, by Application, 2022

The submarine power cables sub-segment accounted for the highest share in 2022. The global shift towards renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind farms, has driven the demand for submarine power cables. These cables are used to transmit electricity from offshore renewable energy installations to onshore power grids. As countries invest in renewable energy projects to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy security, the demand for submarine power cables increases. Countries and regions are increasingly establishing power interconnections through submarine power cables to share electricity and optimize energy resources. These interconnections help stabilize the power supply, facilitate energy trading, and enhance grid resilience. Many islands and remote coastal areas rely on submarine power cables to connect to the mainland power grids. This electrification process aims to improve energy access and economic development in such regions.

Global Submarine Cables Market Share, by Voltage, 2022

The high voltage cables sub-segment accounted for the highest share in 2022. High voltage cables can transmit power over long distances with lower energy losses compared to medium and extra high voltage cables. As voltage increases, the current decreases for the same power transfer, reducing resistive losses along the cable. Transmitting power at higher voltages permits more effective power transmission. This is important for long-distance power transmission. Although high-voltage cables require more insulation and specialized equipment, the reduced energy losses and the ability to transmit larger amounts of power over long distances make them more cost-effective in the long run, particularly for large-scale power transmission projects. High-voltage cables can transmit the same amount of power as lower-voltage cables using smaller conductor sizes. This means less material is required for construction, making the cables more lightweight and easier to handle during installation.

Global Submarine Cables Market Share, by End-User, 2022

The offshore wind power generation sub-segment accounted for the highest share in 2022. Offshore wind farms are located far from the coast in open waters where traditional overhead power lines are not practical. Submarine cables can efficiently transmit electricity over long distances underwater, connecting remote wind farms to the onshore electrical grid. Submarine cables help minimize the environmental impact of power transmission. Unlike overhead power lines, which require significant land use and disrupt sensitive ecosystems, submarine cables have minimal visual impact and do not interfere with land activities. Submarine cables enable the integration of power from various renewable energy projects, ensuring a more balanced and reliable power supply. Offshore wind farms can be connected to the onshore electrical grid through submarine cables, allowing the generated electricity to be distributed to consumers and industries effectively. Submarine cables offer scalability for offshore wind projects. As wind farms grow in capacity, additional cables can be installed to accommodate increased power generation. Submarine cables can be routed around natural obstacles or shipping lanes, allowing wind farms to be located in optimal areas with favorable wind conditions.

Global Submarine Cables Market Share, by Offerings, 2022

The installation & commissioning sub-segment accounted for the highest share in 2022. The increasing need for global data connectivity, driven by the exponential growth of internet traffic, cloud services, and digital communication, has led to a higher demand for new submarine cable installations. As businesses and individuals rely more on digital services, there is a continuous push for the expansion of submarine cable networks to meet these growing data requirements. With the rapid evolution of communication technologies, newer submarine cables are designed to handle higher data capacities and deliver improved performance compared to older systems. As a result, there is a preference for installing new, state-of-the-art cables rather than upgrading existing ones. Many regions and countries are investing in improving their communication infrastructure to support economic growth and attract investment. Installing new submarine cables plays a significant role in enhancing the digital connectivity and competitiveness of these areas.  Companies and governments often opt for new installations to ensure the latest technology and capacity to serve the future needs of their economies.

Global Submarine Cables Market Share, by Component, 2022

The dry plant products sub-segment accounted for the highest share in 2022. Dry plant products, specifically optical fibers, offer superior signal integrity and data transmission capabilities compared to metallic elements used in wet plant products. Dry plant products, such as fiber optic cables, have a significantly higher data capacity than traditional wet plant products. This high data capacity is crucial for meeting the growing demand for global data transmission and communication. Optical fibers in dry plant products experience minimal signal losses compared to metallic elements in wet plant products. This allows for longer transmission distances without requiring signal regeneration. Dry plant products are generally more robust and require less maintenance compared to wet plant products. They are not susceptible to corrosion, which is a common issue for metallic elements in submerged cables. Dry plant products have a lower environmental impact during manufacturing, installation, and operation compared to wet plant products. The use of optical fibers eliminates the need for potentially hazardous substances used in traditional wet plant construction.

Global Submarine Cables Market Share, Region, 2022

The LAMEA region accounted for the highest market share of the submarine cables market in 2022. The LAMEA region serves as a critical link between three continents: Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Submarine cables in this region play a vital role in connecting these continents and facilitating international data exchange and communication. Like other regions, the LAMEA region has experienced a surge in data traffic due to the increased adoption of smartphones, online services, cloud computing, and video streaming. Submarine cables are essential for managing this data traffic and providing high-speed and reliable connectivity. Robust and efficient communication infrastructure, enabled by submarine cables, is crucial for promoting economic development, attracting foreign investment, and fostering regional trade in the LAMEA region. Governments in the LAMEA region has launched various initiatives to enhance digital connectivity and bridge the digital divide. These initiatives often involve investments in submarine cable infrastructure. Many submarine cable projects in the LAMEA region are executed through partnerships and consortiums involving multiple telecommunication companies and stakeholders. These collaborations help share costs and risks associated with such large-scale projects.

Competitive Scenario in the Global Submarine Cables Market

There are several major players functioning in the highly competitive global submarine cables market. In order to increase their market presence and boost their product portfolios, companies are investing in the installation of new submarine cables to meet the growing demand for global data connectivity. This strategy involves identifying strategic routes and landing points to connect major population centers, data centers, and telecommunication hubs. Companies are embracing the latest technological advancements in submarine cable design, such as improved fiber optics, higher fiber counts, and enhanced transmission techniques, to offer higher data capacity and lower latency. Companies can respond to specific customer needs and gain a competitive edge by differentiating their products through innovations.

Some of the leading submarine cables market players are ALE International, ALE USA Inc., NEC Corporation, SubCom, LLC, Prysmian S.p.A, Google LLC, Nexans, ZTT, Amazon.com, Inc., NKT A/S, and Microsoft.