Australia has announced more than AUD$18m (£9m) will be spent over the next four years to help it protect its vital undersea cable networks in the Indo-Pacific.

The country relies on 15 international cables that manage around 95% of its international data traffic and contribute an estimated AUD$167bn or more a year to the Australian economy.

But the heavy reliance on a relatively limited number of underwater cables leaves the infrastructure open to attack from hostile states or damage from shipping and natural disasters.

These polyethylene lined cables are similar in size to a garden hose (17-21 mm diameter) and largely remain untouched during their lifespan, which is usually about 25 years. But every year around 100 to 200 cases of damage are reported on the submarine cables, which comprise the global telecommunications network.

Repairs can be expensive and logistically challenging, particularly if the fault lies below thousands of metres of water. Deep water repairs are relatively uncommon...