Why the internet may need more cable repair ships

A June 2025 industry study estimates that roughly $3 billion in 2025 dollars may be needed by 2040 to replace 15 ageing submarine cable-maintenance ships and add the equivalent of up to five more in Asia. The forecast does not describe an immediate worldwide shortage. It identifies a financing problem: repair vessels need spare capacity to be useful, yet that waiting time makes them difficult to pay for.