As an island nation the United Kingdom is reliant on sub-sea cable infrastructure for international communications and increasingly for power from offshore wind / continental imports.
In 2015 the European Subsea Cables Association (formerly known as Subsea Cables UK), in partnership with the Crown Estate commissioned an independent report from Huddersfield University for an economic and social valuation of the impact that Subsea Cable infrastructure has on the UK.
ESCA Chair, Peter Jamieson of Virgin Media advised “The value of the infrastructure our members have installed into the UK goes far beyond the revenue that they generate. Our very way of life is dependent on these cables to provide the internet, global communications and global trade to the UK. Also, power imported from mainland Europe and from offshore wind is an essential part of the UK’s power mix”
The report estimates that “subsea cable infrastructure delivers in the region of £65 billion of value to the UK economy”, and then goes on to give a full quantitative and qualitative analysis of the value these cables bring to UK plc.
Jamieson added “A report highlighting the importance of sub-sea cables has been long overdue. This is an wholly independent report, and I would like to thank Huddersfield University for their work in producing it”
Kaynak : 