Kathmandu. Can the world’s internet come under Iran’s control? In the last few days, news from the Middle East has caused a stir in the tech world.
According to reports, Iran is now preparing to increase its control over undersea internet cables connecting most of the world. The issue is not just about internet speeds, but also about global data, online banking, cloud services, and the multibillion-dollar digital economy.
Is Iran charging for TAG_OPEN_strong_34 the internet as well?
The real story revolves around the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Large oil ships pass through this sea route. But few people know that many of the world’s most important underwater internet cables also pass through this route. These cables connect Asia, Europe and the Middle East to the Internet.
Now reports from Iranian-linked media networks and the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) suggest that these internet cables could be used to generate income. This would be similar to Iran’s decision to levy tolls on ships passing through Hormuz.
Some foreign media describe it as a digital toll booth model. This means that foreign companies or networks that use these cables can be charged.
According to reports, Iranian-linked media outlets claim that a large amount of digital traffic goes through these cables every day, including banking transactions, cloud data, social media traffic and AI services.
Undersea voyage of data
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The news has raised concerns as the world is already concerned about the growing threat of undersea cables. About 95 to 99 percent of Internet traffic passes through these undersea fiber cables. Major failures or intentional damage to these cables can affect internet, banking and cloud services in many countries.
The news indicates that Hormuz is now not only a route for oil, but also a major hub for the digital world. Many important cables pass through it, connecting Asia and Europe.
TAG_OPEN_strong_32 Will tech companies comply with Iranian law?
The issue is not limited to profits. Some reports also suggest that Iran may force foreign tech companies to comply with its rules in the future. There have also been reports of cable maintenance and maintenance control.
Technical experts fear that if tensions rise or these cables are damaged, the impact will not be limited to the Middle East. Internet connectivity may be affected in many Asian countries. Everything from video calls to UPI payments and AI servers could be affected.
The world is now worried about how the situation could change if the internet becomes a geopolitical weapon like oil. So far, countries have threatened to cut off oil supplies. But in the future, Internet cables could also become a major tool of pressure.
That is, people only consider mobile data and Wi-Fi internet. This internet cable has a network of thousands of kilometers long and is spread under the sea. Now world politics has also come into play. –from
