This report results from collaboration between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), which represents the majority of ocean users within the submarine telecommunications cable industry. Why is such a report required? The last 20 years have seen exponential growth of and increasing reliance on the internet for communication, commerce, finance, entertainment and education. That remarkable development has been accompanied by rapid growth in international telephone communications. Whether sending an email, making an airline booking or simply telephoning overseas, there is more than a 95 per cent probability that those actions will involve the international submarine cable network. In recognition of its importance as the backbone of the internet, governments now view the submarine telecommunications cable network as critical infrastructure that deserves a high level of protection (e.g. ACMA, 2007).