Press TV reported that Brigadier General Yadollah Javani, political deputy to the chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), warned of retaliation against Hormuz cables if Iran’s infrastructure is struck, raising satellite-backup concerns.
Press TV tied the warning to an interview with Al-Alam in its Oct. 21 report. The report did not say any cables had been cut.
More than 99% of international data flows move through submarine cables, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
A cable break does not necessarily disconnect all users. ITU guidance says operators typically redirect traffic through a backup route when a fault interrupts service, while networks with more route options can maintain availability. The ITU says a repair can take from two weeks to several months; weather, the damage site and procedural hurdles affect the timing.
Satellite links can restore selected services, as Tonga’s experience shows. An earthquake on Aug. 26, 2024, disrupted the country’s only domestic subsea cable connection. Digicel Pacific used SES satellite capacity to restore inter-island voice, SMS and data on Vava’u within six hours. SES said the recovered service helped people reach relatives and supported businesses as they resumed operations.
SpaceX describes Starlink as a global internet mesh linking satellites through optical crosslinks. The company has not released a combined estimate of spare capacity that could be redirected during a cable failure. Tonga demonstrates satellite recovery for particular services, but Starlink’s public description does not show whether it could carry the volume handled by submarine cables.
The ITU reported more than 170 cable repairs worldwide in 2025, based on analysis the International Cable Protection Committee presented in April 2026. It identifies fishing and anchoring, along with natural hazards, among the network’s major risks. Route diversity and satellite links can both limit disruption, with Tonga’s case showing how satellites can restore local services.
